Police nab Maradona’s earrings to pay tax bill

Sep 18, 4:20 pm EDT

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ROME (AP)—Italian police didn’t want the shirt off Diego Maradona’s back— just his earrings.

Tax authorities visited the Argentina coach at an Alpine resort on Friday and took away a pair of earrings as part payment of the former Napoli star’s unpaid tax bill.

The Bolzano Provincial Tax Police said Maradona handed over the pair of earrings, worth $5,900. The Italian news agency ANSA said the tax bill stands at about $54 million.

Tax police in the capital of the South Tyrol declined to describe the earrings taken from the Grand Hotel Palace in Merano. An Italian television network reported that they contained diamonds.

Police did not say whether Maradona was wearing them when it was time to pay up.

Three years ago, tax police took two Rolex watches during his appearance at a news conference and benefit in a Naples suburb.

The 48-year-old Maradona captained Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, and had some stellar seasons for Napoli from 1984 to 1991. He helped the club win its two Serie A championships, the UEFA Cup and the Italian Cup.

He was kicked out of the 1994 World Cup and banned for 15 months for failing a doping test for stimulants. He was near death on a respirator five years ago after a heart attack attributed to a cocaine overdose.

With two qualifying games remaining next month, Argentina is in danger of missing its first World Cup since 1970, and Maradona is taking much of the blame.

Updated Sep 18, 4:20 pm EDT
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36 Comments

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  1. Anthony L
    36. Posted by Anthony L Mon Sep 21 5:36pm EDT

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    Maradona= good player in his prime (which only lasted one world cup). Pele=Better (he led Brazil to the World Cup Championship like 3 times. The first time, he was 17 years old. INCREDIBLE). Pele never did drugs (duh) Maradona= crummy coach. Argentina is in jeopardy right now and they may wind up not qualifying unless they beat up on Costa Rica which is the team from CONCACAF they may have to play to squeeze into WC 2010. Bobby Charlton, George Best (2 of england's greatest strikers) have to be better than him. If the USA played Argentina right now, USA would wind up routing them big time. Cuz Maradona is not a good coach. He was a good player. I have seen videos via Youtube where he gets triple-teamed and still manages to score. Pele= No one is better than him. No one has been or ever was or ever will be. Not even Messi or C. Ronaldo. Maradona did drugs as you read the article he was banned from the WC in '94 in the USA for doping. and only led his club Napoli to 2 titles. Zlatan Ibrahimovic led Inter to like 3 straight titles. Ronaldinho led Barcelona to hella La Liga titles. Zenedine Zidane led Real Madrid to Hella La Liga titles as he did for Juventus. landon Donovan led the SJ Earthquakes to their first MLS title as he did for the LA Galaxy. Compare all those successful strikers to Maradona's success for his club. It has to be painfully obvious that Maradona didnt have THAT much success for his club. He did better with the Argentina MNT. Pele dominates in every category hands down but this doesn't mean I hate Maradona. He was good but there had to be other players that had to be better. That's all I am saying.
  2. Zesty
    35. Posted by Zesty Mon Sep 21 3:07pm EDT

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    If Italy tax department needed the earings of maradona for a part payment, how in the world could they allow as much as 54 millions, I agree with the ones who believe this is B***l Sh**t. still, Maradona, is nothing like Pele.
    Facts: Pele 3 world cups
    Maradona: 1 world cup
    Pele: 0 Drug Problems
    Maradona: a lot of drug problems.
    Pele: world embassador for soccer (football)
    Maradona: embassador of nothing
    Please follow the facts, there is only one king to many kingdoms and his name is PELEEEEEEE
    GOALLAASSSSSOOOOOOOOOO
  3. Ross S
    34. Posted by Ross S Mon Sep 21 2:09am EDT

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    Maradroga actually makes Dunga look good!
  4. lucky
    33. Posted by lucky Sun Sep 20 9:45pm EDT

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    maradona exploit on the football field,cannot be discredited,all coaches all over the world,all defenders in the world know that all maradona,had was a left foot and yet still they could not stop him,he was never a selfish player,he made Careca the great player he was,he not only scored great goals,but was the assisst champion.Not taking any thing from the great Pele,but he had lots of help from the great brazilian players unlike Maradona
  5. Triet
    32. Posted by Triet Sun Sep 20 8:30pm EDT

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    Maradona was just ok. He wasn't so good like many people said. Please don't give himself a lot of credits. We didn't have many good soccer players before. I think Pele was the best soccer player on the world at that time. No one could combine with Pele. Maradona was too short and too fat. I think he was just a fat kid. There are so many wonderful players playing for the best clubs in europe right now. He can go there to hire them for Argentina. On the other hands, he also go to The U.S. to learn more from Bradley. Beeing a good coach is not so easy like you r using drugs. Good luck to you, Maradona.
  6. <i>pulaski123</i>
    31. Posted by pulaski123 Sun Sep 20 3:47pm EDT

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    Maradroga is not qualified to coach the Argentine National Team. It has been proven already.
    Maladroga is a rotten child that wanted the toy NATIONAL TEAM and by crying he got it, even when Batista was a much better bet as a coach with some experience. Other choices would have been Cuper or Sanchez; they both have very good experience!!!!
    Why was this CEREBRO FRITO allowed to coach such a National Team when he sank 3 important clubs before and was kicked out of them?
    VERY probably the AFA (Asociacion del Futbol Argentino - or AFAnancios) did not care about the National Team or they interfered telling the coaches before as to what to do.
    Speaking of which, why did Bielsa and Pekerman leave when the team was doing so well?
    Why are they both doing so well in other countries?
    I prefer that Argentina does not qualify for the 2010 World Cup to avoid the shame of being kicked out in the first round. Better give the chance to Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia or Uruguay that play better futbol and don't have that much luck.
    If Maradroga decided to crash the National Team he is doing a very good job. Argentina may qualify because of the results of other teams, but not by its own merit. The excellent players in the team are not syncronized to the other players and their own position because of bad coaching.
    I just hope I am wrong about all this and Argentina shines in Soth Africa.
    There is one thing Diego might be qualified for: sing the ARRORRO to Benjamin, his grandson.
  7. Harry
    30. Posted by Harry Sun Sep 20 2:01pm EDT

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    Maradona was a great player. Him and a 100 more guys through soccer history. This doesn't mean he can coach or stay sober. We shall see.
  8. <i>stmichaelug</i>
    29. Posted by stmichaelug Sun Sep 20 12:59pm EDT

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    numbers dont lie, pele won 3 world cups scored more than 1000 goals, maradona only 1 world cup, despite always playing when he is high on cocain every march, he is so dump to be coach of any soccer team period,
  9. cep
    28. Posted by cep Sun Sep 20 7:53am EDT

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    maradona the greatest of all time....f@#$ pele, he's a hypocrite...u people just don't know the truth about him....he's the face of soccer, they won't allow the garbage to touch him....but their are some stink on pele if you chose to look for it...
    as for the 54 million in taxes plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...another way to rob by a government...he didn't even make that much how can he owe more than he made....it's always the minorty athletes that owe millions in made up taxes.....from joe lewis to tyson, maradona......with these ridiculous phony amounts of back taxes.....these goddammed governments need to stop sticking their f#$%^ hands in peoples pockets....they got you people thinking taxes are a good thing.....they use 10% of taxes for legit purposes and the other 90% to fill their own pockets.....maradona get out of that stinkin' pasta eating country italy.....(and don't pay them @#$%...
  10. andrew
    27. Posted by andrew Sun Sep 20 4:28am EDT

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    he needs a hug
  11. Franz G
    26. Posted by Franz G Sun Sep 20 1:20am EDT

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    I think this $54 Million tax bill is highly dubious. I do not think that Italy can credibly claim this tax bill is valid.

    x
  12. SoCal Gaucho
    25. Posted by SoCal Gaucho Sat Sep 19 8:29pm EDT

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    Maradona has NO CHARACTER (he is one and that is the problem)... the idiots (imbeciles) who put him in charge of this team should be shot! Anyone has witted can coach this team with so much talent... proof of Maradona's incompetence as a coach and leader. Afuera con este bruto!
  13. Haas
    24. Posted by Haas Sat Sep 19 7:50pm EDT

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    it's safe to say Diego is Italys @#$%. anytime he steps on italian soil they can just tax his ass to pay off that $54 million tax bill. Rolex- give it up, earings- give'em up, lambo- give it up, Mcdonalds- give me them fries @#$%, lmfao!
  14. tina
    23. Posted by tina Sat Sep 19 12:53pm EDT

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    how predictable... build our idols up until they reach the top - then jump on the bandwagon when they fall, taking pleasure in their misfortune (self inflicted or not, doesn't really matter). makes me proud to be part of the human race.
  15. Tom
    21. Posted by Tom Sat Sep 19 12:23pm EDT

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    Maradona is a disgrace to himself, everyone thinks he is a joke .Once one of the greatest players
    ever, but what a putz he is now. Argentine Soccer Federation Officials are fools to bring this guy
    in to coach the National Team. What were they thinking ???? Maradona can't even manage his
    own life. How can he possibly manage this National Team, which was a great team ???
    "Such Ignorance"
  16. f**k M. Rogers
    20. Posted by f**k M. Rogers Sat Sep 19 12:19pm EDT

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    @#$% maradona. he's trash. pele is the greatest to ever touch a soccer ball maradona was a @#$% cheat.
  17. El CID
    19. Posted by El CID Sat Sep 19 11:06am EDT

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    New name for argentine's player. Mamona -
  18. COPAmundial
    18. Posted by COPAmundial Sat Sep 19 10:39am EDT

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    Pele was not a roll model either. He had sex with a man at 14 and he also had a divorse!!!
  19. OscarM
    17. Posted by OscarM Sat Sep 19 9:50am EDT

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    i hope maradona will spend more time taking care of himself mentally and the well being of argentina team than focus on vain discusions about who is the best plaver of all time.for me pele got more talent and class than him.he is not a role model for young people
  20. Carlos
    16. Posted by Carlos Sat Sep 19 9:42am EDT

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    put him behind bars, who the hell he tinks he is.poor people should not support these @#$%s
  21. <i>schillinfl2</i>
    15. Posted by schillinfl2 Sat Sep 19 9:41am EDT

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    Maradona couldn't shine Pele's shoes.
  22. edward
    14. Posted by edward Sat Sep 19 8:03am EDT

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    Greatest ever? Give me a break
  23. Tony the One and Only
    13. Posted by Tony the One and Only Sat Sep 19 7:28am EDT

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    Diego is the greatest of all time, hands down..his size, come on he was a half-pint!!
  24. Rosas, or Mr. Rosas
    12. Posted by Rosas, or Mr. Rosas Sat Sep 19 12:17am EDT

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    this guy is a disgrace.
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