DBasia.news – The ‘Hand of God’ has become the most iconic quote of all time, but the English-speaking world can barely hear Diego Maradona’s remarks about his famous goal against England in the 1986 Mexico World Cup.
Reuters journalist Rex Gowar was at the Azteca Stadium after the match when Maradona confessed. An act which is one of the biggest cheats in the history of football.
“It was my first World Cup coverage with Reuters,” said Gowar. “We were near the dressing room with a group of Argentine football writers, it was the kind of usual debate you have after such an important game.”
Meanwhile long before smartphones, social media and non-stop news, anger was already brewing after television replays clearly showed Maradona using his hands to get past England keeper Peter Shilton for Argentina’s opener.
The fact that the second goal he scored minutes later was a work of genius, nonetheless was overshadowed by the controversy over his first goal.
As if pouring gasoline into the fire, Maradona then uttered the words which then made big news around the world.
“Un poco con la cabeza de Maradona y otro poco con la mano de Dios (a little thanks to Maradona’s head and a little thanks to God’s hand),” said Maradona at that time.
A quote that is worth like gold. “I was part of the group that heard that quote,” said Gowar.
“The quote came out when we questioned him. Nobody knows exactly who he said that sentence to, but of course as soon as I heard the quote I was amazed and of course my editor was impressed too.”
The British mass media tried to study the statement as a scapegoat for his team’s failure to repeat the success of the 1966 World Cup. They quoted a copy of the quote wrapped in anger as a victim of injustice due to Maradona’s fraudulent actions.
However, because there was no official translation, they had not heard Maradona’s confession until Reuters news broke into their office. Some media, did not believe Maradona said that.
When the English football writers were angry, their Argentine colleagues praised Maradona. “They didn’t try to argue that he used his hands,” recalled Gowar.
“They know what happened but find it rude to him, they are impressed that he just got away with it.”
Sitting in the media stands above, Gowar recounts a moment that will become a part of the sport’s legend.
“My Reuters colleagues were shocked when Maradona, who pretended to head the opener, ran to celebrate the goal. The referee, pointing to the halfway point (foreshadowing the goal), was surrounded by English players demanding a hand ball decision,” he said.
“The press stand which is located upstairs in the third row of the giant stadium and away from the goal where he scored the goal was suddenly in an uproar almost couldn’t believe the referee missed the trick.”