Diego Maradona on Sunday denied newspaper reports that he had asked
for forgiveness for his "hand of God" goal in the 1986 World Cup
during a recent visit to England, and swore at teammates who had
commented on the remarks.
"I did not ask forgiveness from England," Maradona told
reporters at an Ezeiza International Airport, in Argentine capital
Buenos Aires. Maradona scored the goal with a punch, illegal but
not seen by the game's referee. Thanks to that goal, Argentina
defeated England 2-1, knocking them out of 1986's World Cup.
On Thursday last week, British tabloid The Sun reported that
Maradona had told reporters, "if I could apologize and change
history I would. But the goal remains a goal. Argentina became
world champion and I was the best player in the World Cup."
On Sunday in Argentina, Maradona said, "At no time did I
apologize to anyone. I said you can't change history." He added
that he had beaten a host of players on his way to the disputed
goal.
After the match he described the unseen handball offense which
beat then England goalkeeper as "the hand of God". Shilton last
week rejected Maradona's alleged apology.
Maradona responded with an attack on Shilton saying, "now that's
one hell of a goalkeeper. When they beat him, not even his son will
greet him in the street."
"If I have to apologize to anyone it is to my daughters, my
parents and all the fans of Boca Juniors, because I missed five
penalties," he added.
He also went on to call "putos" (gays or male whores) Argentine
soccer players who had publicly commented on the interview before
he had spoken about it.
"To those who spoke before I got a chance, who were on the team
in 1986 but did not know me either on or off the field, I say you
are very 'putos'," Maradona told reporters.
Argentine internationals Ricardo Giusti, Julio Olarticoechea and
Jorge Burrachaga had criticized Maradona's published comments.
Maradona also described the British as "very naive. They took
information that did not say that. I would like you to show me the
recording in English and that is what I will tell them," he
added.
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(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2008)
