19/04/2004

Footballing great Maradona seriously ill in hospital

Diego Maradona, one of football's greatest ever players, remains seriously ill in a Buenos Aires hospital after suffering breathing problems last night.

Maradona, 43, apparently complained of breathing difficulties after watching his former team Boca Juniors play Nueva Chicago last night. Shortly after the game, he was admitted to intensive care at the privately run Suizo Argentina clinic where he received treatment for hypertension and a cardiac condition.

Maradona, who played in four World Cups for Argentina and made 21 appearances in the finals, was said to be responding to treatment after being placed on a respirator.

Yesterday an Argentinian TV station, Todo Noticas, reported that Maradona had collapsed after a drugs overdose. However, this has been denied by the former footballer's private doctor.

Maradona has battled against drug addiction for some time. He suffered a heart scare in 2000 following a drugs overdose while in Uruguay.

Maradona was banned from playing in Italy's Serie A for 15 months after testing positive for cocaine; and again at the World Cup in 1994, where he was banned for 15 months after testing positive for a banned substance.

The legendary Number 10, who scored 34 times in 91 international appearances, won the World Cup in 1986 – a final which saw the infamous 'hand of God' goal against England. He was also a World Cup runner up in 1990.

In 2000, Maradona and Brazil's Pele were named by Fifa as the game's greatest ever players.

(gmcg)

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