Thousands bid farewell to Maradona in Argentina amid clashes
BUENOS AIRES» Tens of thousands of fans, many weeping, filed past the coffin of Diego Maradona, Argentina’s most iconic soccer star on Thursday in ceremonies that mixed head- of-state-like honors with the chaos of a rowdy stadium.
Fans singing soccer anthems, some draped in the national flag, formed a line more than 20 blocks long stretching from the Plaza de Mayo where Argentines gathered to celebrate the Maradona-led triumph in the 1986 World Cup.
But with the time for viewing the coffin at the nation’s presidential palace drawing short, police moved to cut off the back end of the crowd, enraging fans who hurled rocks and other objects at police, who responded with rubber bullets.
While the scenario was that of a state funeral, a casket laid out in the presidential palace, the atmosphere often was that of a soccer stadium — chanting, singing, pushing and the occasional whiff of alcohol.
Fans wept and blew kisses as they passed Maradona’s wooden casket, some striking their chests with closed fists and shouting, “Let’s go Diego.”
It was draped with the Argentinian flag and shirts bear
ing his famed number 10 from the national team and the club side Boca Juniors, with other jerseys tossed around it by passing admirers.
Maradona died on Wednesday of a heart attack in a house outside Buenos Aires where he had been recovering from a brain operation on Nov. 3.
Open visitation began at 6:15 a.m. after a few hours of privacy for family and close friends. The first to bid farewell were his daughters and close family members. His ex-wife Claudia Villafañe came with Maradona’s daughters Dalma and Gianinna. Later came Verónica Ojeda, also his ex- wife, with their son Dieguito Fernando.
Jana, who Maradona recognized as his daugh
ter only a few years ago, also attended the funeral.
Then came former teammates of the 1986 World Cup-winning squad including Oscar Ruggeri. Other Argentine footballers, such as Boca Juniors’ Carlos Tévez, showed up, too.
Early in the morning some fans grew impatient as police tried to maintain order, throwing bottles
and pieces of metal fencing at police outside the presidential offices in the heart of Buenos Aires. Officers at one point used tear gas to try to control them.
Argentina President Alberto Fernández appeared at midday and placed on the casket a shirt of Argentinos Juniors, where Maradona started his career in 1976.