Maradona was 'threatened at gun-point,' says friendFirst Published: Dec 22, 2005
Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona, seen here in November 2005, was allegedly threatened at gun-point by police during a fracas at Rio de Janeiro airport, according to a friend travelling with Maradona
Football legend Diego Maradona was threatened at gun-point during a fracas at Rio de Janeiro airport, a friend claimed.
The Argentina World Cup winner was arrested by police for causing a disturbance after missing his flight to Buenos Aires from Brazil.
Police in Brazil claim that Maradona, as well as a group of travelling companions, had even destroyed the VIP waiting room.
All were arrested but later released.
But Alejandro Mancuso, a former player who was travelling on the same flight, said Maradona was furious because a door had been slammed in his face.
"They shut the door in his face and then they called the police who threatened him with their guns," Mancuso told Argentine radio station Mitre.
"Maradona's anger was logical and spontaneous. They shut the door, we asked for an explanation and they called the police. Armed police arrived, they threatened us with their guns.
"At that point Diego became angry. It was incredible. We arrived at the airport, did some shopping and when we went to board the plane, the door was shut."
In Rio, police told Radio CBN that they intended to conduct an alcohol test on Argentina's 1986 World Cup hero but Mancuso denied that Maradona had submitted to a test during his detention.
Maradona, vice-president of Boca Juniors, found himself in trouble after "losing his cool" over failing to make his plane back home, an agent reported.
Maradona was in Brazil to take part in a charity match on Wednesday with Brazil's former football star and now coach of Japan, Zico.
According to CBN Maradona had already ruffled feathers when announcing just before kick-off for the game in aid of Rio's poor children that he wouldn't be playing.
He finally turned up surrounded by a posse of bodyguards for the fixture at Zico's football school which ended 4-4.
Later Thursday, the 45-year-old was released, along with four friends, after being detained for a number of hours.
Police said Maradona had wrecked part of the VIP waiting room at the airport during the fracas and would be expected to pay for the repairs.
