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Diego Maradona Allegedly Caught Performing 'Racist' Gesture At The World Cup

Stewart Perrie

Published 
| Last updated 

Diego Maradona Allegedly Caught Performing 'Racist' Gesture At The World Cup

World Cup legends have flocked to Russia this summer, including Argentinian hero and genuine GOAT contender Diego Maradona. However, the 57-year-old former footballer has attracted criticism after allegedly performing a racist gesture at the tournament.

Maradona was in attendance for Argentina's opening game of their World Cup campaign against Iceland - the first game in Group D.

The Argentina legend is loved for his heroics in past World Cups, and is especially remembered in the UK for a brace against England in 1986 that included one genuinely astounding effort and his infamous 'hand of God' moment.

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However, according to Jacqui Oatley, Maradona greeted some South Korea fans before apparently producing a racist gesture by 'pulling his eyes to the side' - a gesture which is beyond unacceptable.

The allegation certainly got people talking, and unsurprisingly football fans across social media were unimpressed.

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Not cool.

The game saw a Lionel Messi penalty saved, before he fluffed a late opportunity to better his Portuguese rival Cristiano Ronaldo's free kick heroics from the previous evening.

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In the end, Alfreð Finnbogason's 23rd minute strike cancelled out Sergio Agüero's opener, earning Iceland a valuable point from the 1-1 draw.

The potential for racism to rear its head at the World Cup in Russia has been a major issue in the build-up to the tournament, with historic problems of black players receiving abuse from the country's terraces.

England footballer Danny Rose told the Evening Standard earlier this month: "If I'm racially abused out there, nothing is going to change.

"It shouldn't be like that, but it is."

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Danny Rose in action for England. Credit: PA
Danny Rose in action for England. Credit: PA

During an England Under-21s encounter with Serbia back in 2012, the full-back said he was racially abused and had stones throw at him from members of the crowd.

England held a team meeting to discuss what they would do if such racist chants and abuse took place in Russia at the World Cup.

Rose told the newspaper: "I said: 'What are we trying to do here? Are we trying to play football or are we trying to change the world?' Whatever we do here isn't going to change what is happening all around the world.

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"I'm just numb to it now."

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: SPORT, Football News, Racism, Football, Argentina, World Cup

Stewart Perrie
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