BUENOS AIRES (AP) – Impatient enthusiasts clashed with police as thousands of people took cover to say goodbye to Diego Maradona on Thursday at Argentina’s presidential mansion where one of football’s biggest stars was held.
Fans threw steel bottles and fences at police near Casa Rosada in central Buenos Aires.
Open tours began at 6:15 a. m. local time (9:15 a. m. GMT), after a few hours of privacy for the circle of family and close friends.
Maradona’s wooden coffin in the main corridor of the presidential office, covered with an Argentine flag and a 10th-team shirt, dozens of T-shirts from other football groups were thrown away by visitors who spent in tears.
Maradona died wednesday of an attack on the center in a space near Buenos Aires where he recovered from brain surgery on November 3.
The first to say goodbye were his daughters and close relatives, then ex-members of the 1986 World Cup-winning team arrived, joining Oscar Ruggeri, and other Argentine footballers, such as Carlos Tévez de Boca Juniors, also performed.
The ranks began in front of Casa Rosada a few hours after Maradona’s death was confirmed, including notable enthusiasts from the Barrabravas of Boca Juniors, one of his former clubs.
The first fan to make a stopover was Nahuel de Lima, with crutches to move around disability, at the same time, a wave of other people tried to get ahead of themselves and clashed with the police, who used tear fuel to get them involved.
The bodyguards prevented enthusiasts from taking photographs and controlling the building. Many enthusiasts collapsed as they left.
Fans walking past the coffin kissed in the air, banged their chests with their fists clenched and shouted “Let’s pass Diepass. “Most, however, wore masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A giant black screen in front of casa Rosada, old images of Maradona as enthusiasts go.