• Late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona was buried at the Jardin Bella Vista cemetery, in Buenos Aires province, on November 26, 2020. AFP
    Late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona was buried at the Jardin Bella Vista cemetery, in Buenos Aires province, on November 26, 2020. AFP
  • Relatives and friends carry the coffin of the late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona. AFP
    Relatives and friends carry the coffin of the late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona. AFP
  • Fans next to the hearse carrying the late Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires. AFP
    Fans next to the hearse carrying the late Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires. AFP
  • Fans next to the hearse carrying the late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona on its way from Casa Rosada presidential palace to the cemetery, in Buenos Aires. AFP
    Fans next to the hearse carrying the late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona on its way from Casa Rosada presidential palace to the cemetery, in Buenos Aires. AFP
  • Aerial view of the burial of late Diego Maradona at the Jardin Bella Vista cemetery, in Buenos Aires. AFP
    Aerial view of the burial of late Diego Maradona at the Jardin Bella Vista cemetery, in Buenos Aires. AFP
  • Diego Maradona was laid to rest at the Jardin Bella Vista cemetery. AFP
    Diego Maradona was laid to rest at the Jardin Bella Vista cemetery. AFP
  • Fans follow the funeral procession of Diego Maradona from the Plaza de Mayo to the cemetery in Buenos Aires. EPA
    Fans follow the funeral procession of Diego Maradona from the Plaza de Mayo to the cemetery in Buenos Aires. EPA
  • Fans follow the funeral procession carrying the remains of Diego Maradona. EPA
    Fans follow the funeral procession carrying the remains of Diego Maradona. EPA
  • Fans observe the funeral procession of Diego Maradona. EPA
    Fans observe the funeral procession of Diego Maradona. EPA
  • People react during a tribute to the late Argentine great Diego Maradona, outside the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires. Bloomberg
    People react during a tribute to the late Argentine great Diego Maradona, outside the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires. Bloomberg
  • People stand in front of the Argentina flag in half-mast during a tribute to the late Argentine football star Diego Maradona, outside the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires. Bloomberg
    People stand in front of the Argentina flag in half-mast during a tribute to the late Argentine football star Diego Maradona, outside the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires. Bloomberg
  • A man cries as he carries his child on his shoulders next to police blocking access to the Jardin de Bellavista cemetery during the funeral of Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires. AP
    A man cries as he carries his child on his shoulders next to police blocking access to the Jardin de Bellavista cemetery during the funeral of Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires. AP
  • Police officers try to contain the crowd as fans tried to climb over the fence to enter Casa Rosada during Diego Maradona's funeral. Getty
    Police officers try to contain the crowd as fans tried to climb over the fence to enter Casa Rosada during Diego Maradona's funeral. Getty
  • Fans try to climb over the fence to enter Casa Rosada during Diego Maradona's funeral. Getty
    Fans try to climb over the fence to enter Casa Rosada during Diego Maradona's funeral. Getty
  • Police moved to cut off the back end of the crowd, enraging fans who hurled rocks and other objects at officers, who responded with rubber bullets. Reuters
    Police moved to cut off the back end of the crowd, enraging fans who hurled rocks and other objects at officers, who responded with rubber bullets. Reuters

Diego Maradona laid to rest amid clashes in Buenos Aires as thousands pay respects


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Clashes broke out in Argentina on Thursday as thousands turned out in the capital Buenos Aires to pay their respects to the recently deceased football star and national hero Diego Maradona.

Singing songs and holding Argentinian flags, the crowd resembled that of a football stadium at times.

Fans formed a line that stretched more than 20 blocks from the Plaza de Mayo, where Argentinians gathered to celebrate the Maradona-led triumph in the 1986 World Cup.

But chaos broke out as the time to view the coffin at the presidential palace drew to a close, with some growing frustrated at not being able to pay their respects to Maradona.

Police moved to cut off the back end of the crowd, enraging fans who hurled rocks and other objects at officers. They responded with rubber bullets.

The crowd overwhelmed organisers and the violence resulted in injuries and arrests, which led Maradona's family to end the public visit.

Some fans climbed on the fences of the presidential mansion while firefighters worked to clear the ground.

“Diego is not dead, Diego lives in the people,” fans chanted as the coffin was taken to a cemetery outside Buenos Aires.

The motorcade, accompanied by police, was followed on a local motorway by dozens of honking cars and motorcycles.

  • A fan cries as she pays homage to Maradona at Argentinos Juniors' Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in La Paternal, Buenos Aires, in November. AFP
    A fan cries as she pays homage to Maradona at Argentinos Juniors' Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in La Paternal, Buenos Aires, in November. AFP
  • Football fans surround the hearse carrying the coffin of Diego Maradona as it arrives at a funeral parlour in Buenos Aires. AP
    Football fans surround the hearse carrying the coffin of Diego Maradona as it arrives at a funeral parlour in Buenos Aires. AP
  • A father and daughter mourn as they gather by the Buenos Aires Obelisk to pay homage to Maradona. AFP
    A father and daughter mourn as they gather by the Buenos Aires Obelisk to pay homage to Maradona. AFP
  • People gather to mourn the death of football legend Diego Maradona, outside the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Reuters
    People gather to mourn the death of football legend Diego Maradona, outside the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Reuters
  • A fan mourns the death of Diego Maradona, outside the Alberto J. Armando "La Bombonera" stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Reuters
    A fan mourns the death of Diego Maradona, outside the Alberto J. Armando "La Bombonera" stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Reuters
  • A fan mourns the death of Diego Maradona, at the Marcelo Bielsa stadium, in Rosario, Argentina, Reuters
    A fan mourns the death of Diego Maradona, at the Marcelo Bielsa stadium, in Rosario, Argentina, Reuters
  • Fans hold a vigil for Maradona outside the stadium of Argentinos Juniors, where he started as a professional footballer, in Buenos Aires. AP
    Fans hold a vigil for Maradona outside the stadium of Argentinos Juniors, where he started as a professional footballer, in Buenos Aires. AP
  • A boy touches a mural of Maradona outside the Argentinos Juniors stadium. AP
    A boy touches a mural of Maradona outside the Argentinos Juniors stadium. AP
  • Ffans carry a banner of Maradona in downtown Buenos Aires. AP
    Ffans carry a banner of Maradona in downtown Buenos Aires. AP
  • A man wearing a shirt with the face of Maradona cries outside the stadium of the Argentinos Juniors. AP
    A man wearing a shirt with the face of Maradona cries outside the stadium of the Argentinos Juniors. AP
  • A sign reaing "Thank You Diego' hangs at the gate of the presidential palace in Buenos Aires. AP
    A sign reaing "Thank You Diego' hangs at the gate of the presidential palace in Buenos Aires. AP
  • Fans pay tribute to Maradona after the news of his death was announced in Buenos Aires. Getty
    Fans pay tribute to Maradona after the news of his death was announced in Buenos Aires. Getty
  • Fans cry for Maradona after the news of his death, Getty
    Fans cry for Maradona after the news of his death, Getty
  • Supporters gather at the door of the judicial morgue, in the town of San Fernando. EPA
    Supporters gather at the door of the judicial morgue, in the town of San Fernando. EPA
  • Police guard at the door of the judicial morgue, in the town of San Fernando, Buenos Aires province. EPA
    Police guard at the door of the judicial morgue, in the town of San Fernando, Buenos Aires province. EPA
  • A fan with a Maradona face mask and motorcycle helmet at La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires. Getty
    A fan with a Maradona face mask and motorcycle helmet at La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires. Getty
  • People gather to mourn the death of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona outside San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy. Reuters
    People gather to mourn the death of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona outside San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy. Reuters
  • People gather to mourn the death of soccer legend Maradona, outside the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, in Buenos Aires. Reuters
    People gather to mourn the death of soccer legend Maradona, outside the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, in Buenos Aires. Reuters
  • Fans gather at Obelisk of Buenos Aires to mourn and pay tribute to Maradona. Getty
    Fans gather at Obelisk of Buenos Aires to mourn and pay tribute to Maradona. Getty
  • The back window of a car displays 'So long, God'. Getty
    The back window of a car displays 'So long, God'. Getty
  • Fans gather to pay tribute to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in the corner of Segurola and Habana in Buenos Aires. Getty
    Fans gather to pay tribute to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in the corner of Segurola and Habana in Buenos Aires. Getty
  • A fan lights a candle to pay tribute to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in Buenos Aires. Getty
    A fan lights a candle to pay tribute to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in Buenos Aires. Getty
  • Tributes to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in Buenos Aires. Getty
    Tributes to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in Buenos Aires. Getty
  • Independiente's coach Lucas Pusineri wears a black armband in memory of Maradona before a Copa Sudamericana match against Uruguay's Fenix in Montevideo, Uruguay. AP
    Independiente's coach Lucas Pusineri wears a black armband in memory of Maradona before a Copa Sudamericana match against Uruguay's Fenix in Montevideo, Uruguay. AP
  • The Beira-Rio stadium with the colours of Argentina in tribute to Maradona in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Reuters
    The Beira-Rio stadium with the colours of Argentina in tribute to Maradona in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Reuters
  • A fan holds a jersey reading 'Today football died' as fans gather to pay tribute to Diego Maradona at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Getty
    A fan holds a jersey reading 'Today football died' as fans gather to pay tribute to Diego Maradona at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Getty
  • Fireworks are let off and a screen displays the No 10 as a tribute to Maradona at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Getty
    Fireworks are let off and a screen displays the No 10 as a tribute to Maradona at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Getty

Maradona died Wednesday of a heart attack in a house outside Buenos Aires, where he had been recovering from a brain operation on November 3.

The football legend was laid to rest after a ceremony attended by family and close friends at the Bella Vista cemetery outside Buenos Aires.

Tributes poured in from around the world following the star's death.

Lionel Messi, Argentina's modern-day superstar, led the tributes as he said: "He has left us but he will never leave us because Diego is eternal."

Brazilian legend Pele, 80, said he hoped they would one day "play together in the sky."