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| A screen displays an image of Diego Maradona and the legend “1960-infinity Thanks Diego” at Boca Junior’s Bombonera stadium |
Argentine football is gearing up for a weekend of celebrations to mark the birthday of late star Diego Maradona, with matches across the country being paused and clubs and fans dressing to remember the controversial superstar.
The former Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona player died on Nov. 20 last year from a heart attack. His death was widely mourned in Argentina, which he led to triumph in the 1986 World Cup.
โToday, 61 years since his birth, his memory is more present than ever,โ the Argentine Football Association wrote. โBecause Diego is eternal.โ
The AFA has told all professional clubs that players are to take the field wearing T-shirts with Maradonaโs picture on the front and team captains are to wear a blue and white armband โ Argentinaโs national colours โ with his silhouette on it.
All matches โ including amateur and childrenโs matches โ have been told to pause after 10 minutes for a minuteโs applause.
The association hopes 1,000 games will be affected across the South American nation and asked fans to take pictures and upload them using the hashtag #1000PartidosPorEl10, or โ1000 Matches for the 10โ.
โDiego is in the hearts of all Argentines,โ it said. โDonโt miss out.โ
The first tributes took place in Friday nightโs league matches with billboards outside stadiums showing pictures of the star.
A drone carrying a replica of Maradonaโs No. 10 Argentina shirt flew over the stadium where Racing lost at home to Defensa y Justicia.
Songs recorded in tribute to Maradona were played as fans cheered and sang along.
REUTERS
