03:05UK: British tabloids still bitter over 'cheat' Maradona as Londoners react to Argentine's death
British tabloid newspapers were in an unforgiving mood as they led with images of Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal, as seen in London on Thursday, a day after news broke of the Argentina legend's passing.
One front page asked 'Where was VAR when we needed it?' referring to the recent introduction of video refereeing.
Another brandished him a 'villain' and a 'cheat' over the 1986 World Cup goal which saw Maradona rise above England's Peter Shilton and handle the ball to give Argentina the lead.
He later said the goal had been scored by 'the hand of God but the head of Diego.'
Maradona went on to score the 'Goal of the Century' minutes later, dribbling past half the England team before finding the net.
A local football fan said he had been 'absolutely appalled' by the 'Hand of God' goal but had since forgiven him, unlike the newspapers.
The 1986 match had been played to a backdrop of tension between England and Argentina due to the '82 war over the UK's possession of the Falkland Islands, known as 'Las Malvinas' in Spanish.
Diego Armando Maradona died on Wednesday, 25 November at the age of 60 in Argentina, where he is revered as a hero. In England, however, he will always be painted as the villain.
03:05British tabloid newspapers were in an unforgiving mood as they led with images of Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal, as seen in London on Thursday, a day after news broke of the Argentina legend's passing.
One front page asked 'Where was VAR when we needed it?' referring to the recent introduction of video refereeing.
Another brandished him a 'villain' and a 'cheat' over the 1986 World Cup goal which saw Maradona rise above England's Peter Shilton and handle the ball to give Argentina the lead.
He later said the goal had been scored by 'the hand of God but the head of Diego.'
Maradona went on to score the 'Goal of the Century' minutes later, dribbling past half the England team before finding the net.
A local football fan said he had been 'absolutely appalled' by the 'Hand of God' goal but had since forgiven him, unlike the newspapers.
The 1986 match had been played to a backdrop of tension between England and Argentina due to the '82 war over the UK's possession of the Falkland Islands, known as 'Las Malvinas' in Spanish.
Diego Armando Maradona died on Wednesday, 25 November at the age of 60 in Argentina, where he is revered as a hero. In England, however, he will always be painted as the villain.