34 years ago, Diego Maradona was blocked for 15 months after a positive test for cocaine. The scandal devastations at that time ultimately became a irreparable fracture of a large career.
He was the best footballer of his time and maybe history, world champion, hero, idol. Was worshiped as “Dios”, God. 34 years ago, however, God fell from heaven.
On April 6, 1991, the biggest low of his career was manifested for football idol Diego Maradona: after a positive doping test, he was closed to cocaine for 15 months.
The personal cult of SSC Naples was a charged Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona: Crash after World Cup 1990
At that time, the Argentine midfield genius had a turbulent time: after the intoxicating career highlight with the 1986 World Cup title and the sensational championship title with SSC Naples in 1987, it began to trouble in the dream marriage Maradona / Napoli.
The sensitive Maradona began to feel crushed from the person cult in Naples, decided to start a fresh start, asked for the release to change – and when he did not get it, he intensified his escape into drugs and excessive parties.
Maradona celebrated the city between the games in the city’s clubs, booming with cocaine – but was still good enough to celebrate the second championship in 1990 with Naples and to play with Argentina again until the final of the World Cup.
After the final against Germany, which was lost this time, in which Maradona desperately desperately desperate Guido Buchwald, the abyss.
The reputation of the idol was at the low point
According to surveys, Maradona was suddenly the most hated man in Italy. He was resented that he thwarted the dream of the title in his own country in the semi -finals against Italy – in Naples. Above all, he also made some comments that were understood as an attempt to pull the fans in Naples on the Argentina’s side and play out against the rest of the country.
After the World Cup, Maradona, plagued by back problems, came back to Naples overweight and shaped. His behavior became increasingly erratic.
Maybe the disclosure avalanche that got started in the months afterwards.
Positive cocaine test became a career break
Maradona was targeted by state investigators, dismissed telephone calls that he had made friends of the Camorra with whom he had made friends with cocaine and prostitutes – he often ran with the high -ranking clan member Carmine Giuliano, who died in 2004 repeatedly used Maradona’s shine for his cloudy purpose.
Diego Maradona ran in Naples with Mafiaboss Carmine Giuliano from Camorra (2nd VL)
And: After a 1-0 home win against AS Bari in mid -March, Maradona flew through a doping test – cocaine.
Maradona’s drug problem had been an open secret in Naples for a long time, but he was still laid through the lax anti-doping system for years. “Probably someone else peed for him,” commented ex-boss Ferlaino in the much praised documentary about Maradona 2019.
The fallen superstar was sentenced to a probation penalty for drug ownership and transfer and closed for 15 months. He came back again, but no more than the one he was: Other doping scandals ended both his national team comeback at the 1994 World Cup and his club career, which had led him to FC Sevilla, Newell’s Old Boys and back to the Boca Juniors until 1997.
Scandals have long since been forgiven
Countless other bitter headlines followed: Maradona was hit by massive, almost fatal health problems several times, fought with his drug addiction and weight, which was temporarily at 130 kilos, and his private life was as turbulent as his sporty.
Maradona may died on November 25, 2020 at the age of 60, which are currently the subject of a great criminal trial in Argentina.
Despite all the scandals, Maradona is seen in mild light in both Argentina and the long -time adopted home of Naples long before his death: the dark affairs have been forgiven for a long time, Maradona became honorary citizen of Naples, his jersey with the iconic rear number 10 is no longer awarded.