Diego Maradona Apologizes for “Hand of God” Goal, Sort Of

By: Daryl | February 1st, 2008

If you’re not familiar, the above clip is from the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between England and Argentina. Little El Diego jumps with the pretty damn big Peter Shilton but scores by using his hand. Twenty-two years later it’s still a sore point with England fans, especially since Maradona rubbed it in by scoring (probably) the best goal of all time just a few minutes later.

But yesterday Maradona apologized for the goal for the first time, apparently telling The Sun “If I could apologize and go back and change history I would do.”

Bizarrely, I’m disappointed in him. I was a young England fan when this happened and was very very angry, but later came to respect Maradona’s nonchalance about the whole thing. The BBC’s South American expert Tim Vickery has argued that the genius of that goal lies in Maradona “getting away” with something against the English, which makes it as sweet as the other goal for him.

I also suspect that maybe El Diego will say anything for a bit of attention these days, including apologizing for one of his most famous goals. But I shouldn’t be too disappointed, as Maradona hasn’t exactly begged for forgiveness. He followed up his apology with “But the goal is still a goal, Argentina became world champions and I was the best player in the world.” That’s more like it Diego.

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Category: World Football

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Albo

Maradona apologized because he is considering a job in England. That's all.
His word has no value whatsoever. He's saying all the same things Pelé has said before and Diego hated him so much for that.
Sell off, that's all.
And he keeps swearing for his daughters' life.
He makes a lot of argentineans (I'm included) ashamed.
On a poll by Clarín/Olé, 2/3 of the participants don't wanna hear of him anymore.
The best player ever? may be...
The biggest mouth in the world? may be too...
lefutur

Platini's class always usurped Maradona's bravado in my book.
Rob

He can afford to aplogise when he chucked in THAT goal afterwards. Then again I guess the England team was in such shock after the Hand of God that they weren't concentrating. And were a bit rubbish.
Laurie

I love Maradona. The world will be an emptier, more colorless place when he finally and inevitably succumbs to excess.