Maradona Refutes Reports He Was Taken to Hospital After Argentina-Nigeria Match

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Former World Cup champion Diego Maradona denied allegations of his being hospitalized following the 2018 FIFA World Cup encounter between Argentina and Nigeria on Wednesday.

Earlier, ESPN reported that Maradona had collapsed after the final whistle and was taken away from the stadium. 

"I want to tell everyone that I am fine, that I am not, neither was I interned. In the halftime of the game against Nigeria, my neck hurt a lot and I suffered a decompensation. I was checked by a doctor and he recommended me to go home before the second half, but I wanted to stay because we were risking it all. How could I leave? I send a kiss to everyone, thanks for the support!" Maradona posted on Instagram.

 

Castellano | Italiano | Inglés Quiero contarles que estoy bien, que no estoy ni estuve internado. En el entretiempo del partido con Nigeria me dolía mucho la nuca y sufrí una descompensación. Me revisó un médico y me recomendó que me fuera a casa antes del segundo tiempo, pero yo quise quedarme porque nos estábamos jugando todo. ¿Cómo me iba a ir? Les mando un beso a todos, perdón por el susto y gracias por el aguante, hay Diego para rato! Voglio solo dirvi che sto bene, che non sono e non sono stato ricoverato. Durante l'intervallo della partita con la Nigeria ho avuto un forte dolore alla nuca e un mancamento. Un medico mi ha visitato e mi ha consigliato di tornare a casa prima del secondo tempo, ma ho deciso di rimanere perché ci stavamo giocando il tutto per tutto. Come sarei potuto andarmene? Un bacio a tutti e grazie per il supporto… Diego ci sarà ancora per un bel po'! I want to tell everyone that I am fine, that I am not, neither was I interned. In the halftime of the game against Nigeria, my neck hurt a lot and I suffered a decompensation. I was checked by a doctor and he recommended me to go home before the second half, but I wanted to stay because we were risking it all. How could I leave? I send a kiss to everyone, thanks for the support!

Публикация от Diego Maradona Oficial (@maradona) 26 Июн 2018 в 7:20 PDT

 

Maradona was watching the game from the VIP section of St. Petersburg Stadium and his expressive and highly emotional state were caught on camera on numerous occasions throughout the match.

"Our doctors approached him [Maradona] to measure his pulse. He said that he didn't need any medical assistance. The information about [Maradona's] hospitalization is false," an ambulance worker said.

Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 in their final Group D match and move to the knockout stage, where they will face Group C winners France in Kazan on Saturday.