Maradona death: Anger as 'scoundrel' has photo taken 'touching footballer's body'
The football icon's lawyer has promised that "all those responsible for such an act of cowardice will pay".
Friday 27 November 2020 16:38, UK
Diego Maradona's lawyer has threatened to take legal action against the "scoundrel" who had a photo taken next to the football icon's open casket as his body lay in state in Buenos Aires.
In an image widely shared online, a man can be seen giving a thumbs up to the camera with one hand, while the other appears to be touching the forehead of the late World Cup winner, who died of a heart attack on Wednesday, aged 60.
Venting his anger on Twitter, Maradona's lawyer Matias Morla, wrote: "I am going to personally take care of finding the scoundrel who took that photograph.
"For the memory of my friend I will not rest until I pay for such an aberration.
"All those responsible for such an act of cowardice will pay."
The man in the photo was among three people hired by funeral parlour Sepelios Pinier to help prepare Maradona's body and carry the coffin, according to Argentinian TV channel TN.
It said the manager Matias Picon was "devastated" and claimed the trio were not directly employed by them and that they were "outsourced" by a third party.
Speaking to TN, he said he did not know if Maradona's relatives would now sue them, and said: "The family trusted us, we have been working with them for a long time.
"My father is 75-years-old and he is crying, I am crying, my brother too, we are destroyed."
Maradona's funeral sparked clashes in Argentina after thousands of fans were unable to get a glimpse of his coffin.
Tens of thousands managed to pay their respects on Thursday as his body lay in state, before viewing was cut short at 6pm by the family, who wanted his body taken for burial.
Fans had gathered across the city, adorned in flags and football strips and singing songs, in the hope of being able to pay their respects.
However, people became impatient at being unable to see the casket and threw bottles, bricks and metal fencing at police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
Only family members and close friends attended, and the footballing legend was buried next to the graves of his parents, Dalma and Diego.