Published: 09:04, May 3, 2024
Maradona's children call for moving body to mausoleum for safety, tribute
By Reuters
In this file photo dated June 22, 2021, a person passes by murals painted by artist Marley outside the Diego Armando Maradona stadium as people are gathering to commemorate the Argentine legend's second goal against England during the FIFA World Cup Mexico 1986 on its 35th anniversary, in Buenos Aires. (PHOTO / AFP)

BUENOS AIRES - Diego Maradona's children filed a request with the Argentine Courts on Thursday to move the former football great's body "to a much safer place" and for fans "to pay tribute" in a mausoleum.

Maradona's remains lie in a private cemetery on the outskirts of Buenos Aires where he was carried in November 2020 in a massive funeral procession. Only family members are allowed to enter the cemetery.

The mausoleum, called "Memorial del Diez", is located behind the Casa Rosada, the seat of the executive branch of the Argentine government, and will be open to the public, Veronica Ojeda, mother of Maradona's youngest son, told local media.

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People walk past a mural depicting late Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona in the Sanita quarters as Naples paints the town for its potential first Scudetto championship win in 33 years, in Naples, Italy, on March 23, 2023. (PHOTO / REUTERS)

"All the heirs request by common agreement to authorise the transfer to his next destination of eternal rest (...) in a much safer place than the current one," said the note presented to the court signed by Dalma and Gianinna Maradona, and Ojeda on behalf of Diego Maradona Jr.

"And so that all the Argentine people and the citizens of the world can pay homage to our father who was the greatest Argentine idol."

The relocation will take place around Oct 30, the birth date of the 1986 World Cup winner with Argentina, one of the family's lawyers told reporters.

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Maradona died at age 60 in November 2020 from a heart attack. Fans of Napoli and of the Argentine national team worshipped him as the "god of football".