Argentine legend Diego Maradona died in his residence on the outskirts of Buenos Aires this week. He was 60 years old. Two weeks earlier, he had successful brain surgery and was said to be resting comfortably.
Many immediately chalked his passing up to years of drug abuse finally catching up with him. However, that now seems like it may have been a premature ruling.
According to Maradona’s agent Matias Morla, malfeasance and negligence may have been at play in Maradona’s death. Per Morla, it took the responding ambulance “more than half an hour” to arrive to Maradona’s residence, something he described as “criminal idiocy.” If the ambulance had arrived in a more timely fashion, the Argentine legend’s life could have been saved.
“This fact cannot be overlooked and I’m going to ask for an investigation to look into it until the end,” Morla noted.
“As Diego would say, you are my soldier, act with pity.”
COMUNICADO pic.twitter.com/phPvRVkAXT
— MATIAS MORLA (@MatiasMorlaAb) November 26, 2020
A lack of timely medical attention was not the only issue that arose in recent days. Following Maradona’s death, a funeral worker also took it upon himself to take a disturbing photograph with his body. The Sepelios Pinier funeral parlor employee in Buenos Aires was promptly fired.
Tributes have poured in from all over the world following Maradona’s death.
Thousands of Argentinians paid tribute to him on Thursday at a public wake held at the Casa Rosada’s presidential palace in Buenos Aires.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp also took a moment to speak out on his legacy.
Paulina Gretzky has taken Masters victory celebrations to a new level. https://t.co/K1yliTiGao
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 22, 2020
“The best through my lifetime,” he said. “Maybe it is not right anymore because I have seen Cristiano [Ronaldo] and Lionel [Messi] many times now as well. In my own playing career, he was the standout player.
“His life I think shows how nice and how difficult life can be when you are a world-class footballer. I met him once. For a player of my level meeting him was like meeting the Pope.”
Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa echoed that sentiment.
You love to see it. https://t.co/rfGuc5GNwi
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 21, 2020
“He was for us, and will continue to be, an idol,” he said. “Given the fact he is not here with us anymore brings us great sadness. Having lost an idol, it’s something that makes us feel weak
“Maradona was an artist. To give one example that stands out: the songs written about him are extraordinary and I read 10 texts after his death that have been emotional,” he continued.
“I don’t recall where I was [when I watched the ‘Hand of God’ goal] but the expression of a work of art is something that you can’t put to too many things. When you see a beautiful church you are taken back, this was a similar feeling I had when Diego scored.”
Argentina President Alberto Fernandez ordered three days of national mourning for Maradona’s death.
“You took us to the highest place in the world,” he said in a statement.
“You made us immensely happy. You were the greatest of all. Thanks for existing, Diego. We are going to miss you the rest of our lives.”
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
