Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton has admitted he remains unhappy Diego Maradona never issued an apology for his ‘Hand of God’ goal which he scored against the Three Lions at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. Maradona stealthily scored with his hand as England lost 2-1 to eventual champions Argentina in the last eight with Shilton in goal at the Azteca Stadium.
Four minutes after that infamous incident, Maradona scored arguably the greatest goal ever scored at a World Cup as he waltzed past the entire England defence, from his own half to put his side 2-0 up.
Maradona tragically passed away on Wednesday (November 25) after suffering a heart attack at his home in Buenos Aires.
Shilton insists that Maradona showed ‘no sportsmanship’ after his nation’s success 34 years ago. ‘My life has long been linked with that of Diego Maradona – and not in the way I would have liked,’ Shilton wrote in his article for MailOnline.
Diego Maradona and Peter Shilton captained their sides as Argentina beat England ‘But I am saddened to hear of his passing at such a young age. He was undoubtedly the greatest player I ever faced and my thoughts are with his family.’
‘It has bothered me over the years. I won’t lie about that now. People say I should have cleared the ball anyway and that I let a smaller man outjump me. That’s rubbish. He had the run on me but that can happen,’ Shilton wrote.
‘He wouldn’t have punched it if he knew he could head it, would he? Of course not. So I am OK with all that.
‘No, what I don’t like is that he never apologised. ‘Never at any stage did he say he had cheated and that he would like to say sorry. Instead, he used his ‘Hand of God’ line. That wasn’t right. ‘It seems he had greatness in him but sadly no sportsmanship.
‘My approach to that was always the same – that I would be happy to do it if I thought he was going to apologise. ‘I would have shaken his hand. But I was never given any indication that was likely to happen.
— Story by SPNAfrica/ Quotes from MailOnline
©SPNAfrica
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