AP exclusive: Maradona heirs say his Golden Ball trophy was stolen. They want to stop its auction

PARIS (AP) — Diego Maradona’s heirs will launch a lawsuit to try to cease the public sale of a trophy he was awarded after the 1986 World Cup received by Argentina, their lawyer advised The Related Press on Tuesday.

The Golden Ball trophy rewarding the most effective participant of the match had been lacking for many years after it disappeared in unclear circumstances and solely just lately resurfaced. It’s set to be auctioned in Paris subsequent month, the Aguttes public sale home mentioned final week.

Maradona, who died in 2020 at age 60, captained Argentina in its 3-2 win over West Germany within the 1986 closing in Mexico Metropolis. Earlier than that had been the “Hand of God” purpose and the “Aim of the Century” in a 2-1 win over England within the quarterfinals.

Maradona’s heirs say the trophy was stolen and declare the present proprietor can’t be entitled to promote it.

Gilles Moreu, a lawyer working with Paradox Attorneys agency, mentioned he’ll throw an pressing request to the president of the Nanterre judicial courtroom close to Paris to have the Golden Ball withdrawn from the public sale. He advised the AP he can even request a judicial sequestration of the trophy and file a criticism for theft and hid theft.

Aguttes mentioned the trophy reappeared in 2016 amongst different heaps that had been acquired from a non-public assortment at public sale in Paris.

Maradona obtained the award in 1986 at a ceremony on the Lido cabaret on the Champs-Élysées. It subsequently disappeared, giving rise to rumors.

Some say it was misplaced throughout a poker recreation or offered to repay money owed, Aguttes mentioned. Others say Maradona saved it in a protected in a Naples financial institution that was robbed by native gangsters in 1989, when he performed within the Italian league. Maradona’s heirs imagine it was stolen from the financial institution.

Moreu, who represents two daughters of Maradona, say the heirs came upon solely just lately that the trophy had been stolen. In keeping with the lawyer, Maradona’s household desires the sale to be banned as a result of it believes the Golden Ball belongs to them.

Moreu mentioned he was contacted by an Argentine colleague after the 2 daughters mentioned the matter with the opposite heirs, who gave their approval to the authorized motion.

The public sale home’s argument is the one who purchased the trophy years in the past was not conscious it had been stolen.

“If the proprietor of an object can declare possession underneath French regulation, it’s on the plain situation that his or her good religion can’t be referred to as into query,” the Paradox Attorneys agency mentioned in a press release to the AP. “This can’t be the case for the proprietor of a trophy that was famously stolen from Diego Maradona and whose heirs can legally declare possession.”

Moreu mentioned, “It doesn’t seem that the vendor contacted Diego, which wasn’t that sophisticated.”

The public sale home mentioned it expects the trophy “to fetch tens of millions as a result of its uniqueness.”

Bidders will probably be requested to make a deposit of 150,000 euros ($161,000) to take part within the June 6 public sale.

The Hand of God purpose got here when Maradona punched the ball into England’s internet. 4 minutes later, he weaved by England’s midfield and protection and previous goalkeeper Peter Shilton for what FIFA later declared the best purpose in World Cup historical past.

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Petrequin reported from Montpellier, France.

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