now there have been chaotic scenes in
argentina as tens of thousands of
football fans paid their final respects
to diego maradona police were unable to
contain the vast numbers
who'd come to see his coffin on display
in buenos aires
maradona who for many was the greatest
footballer in the history of the game
died of a heart attack yesterday at the
age of 60. katie watson has this report
[Music]
the tears didn't stop all day mourners
filed through the doors of the
presidential palace
vice president christina fernandez de
kirchner lingering at his coffin to pay
her respects
it's been a hero's farewell for maradona
lying in state is an honor afforded to
few in argentina
a mark of just how loved he was here
argentinians waited patiently for hours
breaking into song to keep the spirits
up and to remember the good
times
football has died so we have to remember
him in the best way
he was one of the best that goal with
the english will never forget that
this crowd here can't be explained just
by argentinian's love of football yes
it's important but it's much more than
that
the people who've come here today saw
maradona as a national icon
a man who represented them and did them
proud and it's a legacy that spans
generations as mourners left the palace
for some
it was too much to process it's the only
one who actually
made all the country proud no matter
what political
orientation you have religious
he came from nowhere and he put our
country
in the world in a country hard hit by
coronavirus
otherwise strict rules were being
ignored for argentina's footballing
superstar but as the day went on and the
summer temperatures rose
emotions also ran high hundreds of fans
broke down the barriers
and riot police responded
authorities had to stop public viewing
of the coffin to keep the peace
diego maradona was argentina's wild
child
loved despite his flaws celebrated
beyond measure
as his family prepares to bury him
argentina doesn't want to forget
katie watson bbc news in buenos aires