The Malta Independent 25 April 2024, Thursday
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Maradona visits referee who allowed 'Hand of God' goal in 1986 World Cup

Tuesday, 18 August 2015, 13:41 Last update: about 10 years ago

29 years after Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal against England at the 1986 World Cup, the former Argentina captain went to visit the referee who allowed it.

Ali Bennaceur of Tunisia received a visit from the Argentine last week, according to a post on Maradona’s official Facebook page.

It was the '86 cup in Mexico where Argentina took out England 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Argentina went on to win the cup, its second and most recent.

The ball came off a defender when Maradona, now 54, went up and hit it in with his hand, getting past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Bennaceur, now 71, didn't see it, so no handball was called.

When asked about the goal after the match, Maradona said it was the "Hand of God."

What a big moment in soccer history. But Maradona wasn't done yet. Four minutes later, he produced what is known as "the goal of the century," and many still consider it the best goal ever scored.

"This weekend I visited Tunisia and I had an emotional reunion with Ali Bennaceur, the referee of the England match in Mexico, 1986," Maradona said on his Facebook Monday. "I gave him an Argentina shirt and he gave me the picture of that game that hangs in his home. My dedication: ‘For Ali, my eternal friend.'”

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