TV cameras catch violence outside Diego Maradona wake in Argentina

Argentina is deeply mourning the death of football legend Diego Maradona but at his public wake, emotions have broken into violence.

Argentinians have taken to the streets after the death of football legend Diego Maradona at 60.

The legendary superstar died in his sleep of a heart attack, sparking an outpouring of grief around the world.

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But nowhere has it been more deeply felt than in Argentina.

People took to the streets, laying flowers and candles at the mural of Maradona at Estadio Diego Armando Maradona, the stadium that bears his name in Buenos Aires.

Maradona’s body was taken to the presidential palace in Argentina with the government declaring three days of mourning.

Argentinian president Alberto Fernandez offered the use of Government House to Maradona’s family.

Fans quickly gathered outside the palace with hundreds trying to get a final look at the national hero with a wake held with fans filing in to see his coffin draped in an Argentinian flag.

Some fans reached out for the coffin as many paid their last respects.

But outside the palace, some fighting erupted.

Maradona será velado hoje em Buenos Aires #BalançoGeral pic.twitter.com/FHCrfUqWxI

— Balanço Geral (@balancogeral) November 26, 2020

There have also been reports of people kicking down fences in clashes with police.

Marca.com reported physical clashes between the security and fans as well as tear gas allegedly being used.

Fans clash with police outside Maradona’s wake.

Fans outside the presidential palace.

Fans try to get in to see Maradona.

Fans clash with police.

The BBC’s Wyre Davies in a tweet to BBC’s South American correspondent Katy Watson said “ I think Maradona‘s wake & funeral are going to be tumultuous events.”

Buenos Aires Times reported that “as many as one million people will want to pay their respects to the legendary late footballer”.

The ugly scenes captured on TV cameras appeared to be a small minority however with most fans respectfully remembering the late superstar.

Fans cheered, blew car horns, set off sirens and sang songs while football stadiums across Argentina was lit up at 10pm, in a tribute to his famous No.10 jersey.

An autopsy report leaked to media said he died in his sleep after suffering heart failure. He was only taken to hospital a fortnight ago to remove a blood clot in his brain.

Stunned Argentines were plunged into grief Wednesday by the death of the country’s favorite son Diego Maradona, a sublimely gifted sporting hero they saw as “the most human of Gods.”

The news fell like a hammer blow to a nation beaten down by months of economic crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, but one where soccer is seen as a panacea for all ills.

Fans pay their respects for Maradona.

At the Diego Maradona stadium, home to the Argentinos Juniors club where Maradona played as a child and made his debut as a professional player, fireworks were launched as a large crowd flooded into the field to the cry of “Maradooo, Maradooo.”

Earlier, fans searching for a place to grieve gravitated towards the Obelisk landmark in downtown Buenos Aires — and, of course, the Bombonera, the steep-sided cauldron of a stadium that is home to Boca Juniors, where Maradona’s genius was forged.

“I can’t believe it. It’s incredible. One thinks one gets through any storm, but no, everyone ends up being mortal. It feels like a bad dream. A joke,” Francisco Salaverry, 28, told AFP.

“Today’s a bad day. A very sad day for all Argentines,” President Alberto Fernandez summed up in an interview with sports channel TyC, after declaring three days of national mourning.

All around the city, the mourning had already begun as fans stood forlornly beside banners in homage to the Number 10, showing Maradona -- who died aged 60 of a heart attack -- in his dashing prime.

Many of the banners simply said D10S, a play on the Spanish word “dios” for “God” that includes Maradona’s jersey number.

— with AFP