Diego Maradona’s heirs have initiated authorized motion in France to halt the contentious sale of the Argentine soccer legend’s “Golden Ball” trophy from the 1986 Mexico World Cup.
The trophy, awarded to the match’s finest participant, had been lacking for many years earlier than being found by an vintage seller in Paris.
It is scheduled to be auctioned by Aguttes in Neuilly-sur-Seine, close to Paris, on June 6.
Lawyers for Maradona’s household, who died in 2020 on the age of 60, argue that the trophy, anticipated to fetch thousands and thousands, rightfully belongs to his 5 heirs.
In 2022, Maradona’s Argentina jersey from the 1986 match bought for almost $9.3 million, whereas the “Hand of God” ball from the quarter-final towards England bought for $2.4 million later that yr.
According to the Maradona household, the trophy given to their father in November 1986 on the Lido Cabaret in Paris was stolen throughout a financial institution theft three years later in Naples.
The participant’s household claims they solely found a number of weeks in the past that it was to be auctioned and instantly took authorized motion to attempt to reclaim it.
“The family aims to recover this ball, the Argentine people want to recover this ball,” lawyer Lola Chunet instructed a court docket in Nanterre, exterior Paris.
Lawyer Arthur Gaulier, representing Aguttes, argued: “Attempting, 35 years after an alleged theft, to claim property without ever having filed a complaint, is an opportunistic approach that justice cannot condone.”
On Thursday, legal professionals for the public sale home and the trophy vendor claimed that the Maradona household had not offered proof of a grievance filed on the time.
Maximilien Aguttes, director of the public sale home, mentioned one of many “legends” circulating concerning the award was that Maradona forgot it on the Lido the night it was awarded.
The vintage seller who acquired the trophy mentioned he purchased it at an public sale in 2016 “in the same hardware lot” of tons of of trophies, most of little worth.
“He bought them for 500 euros excluding fees,” detailed the vendor’s lawyer, Marine Le Bihan, at a worth which valued every trophy at 1.20 euros, earlier than realizing that one may very well be Maradona’s “Golden Ball.”
During his analysis to show its authenticity, he contacted one of many footballer’s legal professionals, insisted Le Bihan.
The court docket will resolve on May 30 whether or not the sale can happen.
At the identical time, a legal grievance was filed, which the prosecution confirmed to AFP.
The trophy has nothing to do with the Ballon d’Or awarded by France Football journal to the very best participant of the yr.
Source: www.dailysabah.com