Post by Salem6 on Apr 19, 2004 8:38:43 GMT
Maradona pictured in 2001. (Getty Images)
Argentina legend Diego Maradona is believed to be in a critical condition following his admission to a Buenos Aires hospital with breathing difficulties.
According to an official statement from the Suizo Argentina Clinic, Maradona is suffering from hypertension and heart problems and has been sedated, intubated and attached to a machine to help him to breathe.
The medical report states his prognosis is "moderately favourable" but the forecast is as yet uncertain.
The 43-year-old had gone to watch his old team Boca Juniors play at home against Nueva Chicago on Sunday morning but at 6pm local time he was rushed to the clinic's intensive care unit.
Maradona's personal physician Dr Alfredo Cahe was surprised by the ex-footballer's sudden illness.
"I do a daily check on Diego and he was fine," Dr Cahe said on the steps of the clinic.
Family members and friends went to the hospital to be at his bedside.
Maradona has a history of drug and health problems. In 2000 he suffered severe heart problems due to a cocaine overdose.
He then began a long recovery treatment in Cuba and returned to his homeland last month.
Maradona was also twice banned for failing drug tests during his playing days.
He received a 15-month suspension in 1991 when testing positive for cocaine while playing in Italy's Serie A and was sent home from the 1994 World Cup and banned for the same amount of time.
Maradona is best known for the infamous "Hand of God" incident during England's 2-1 World Cup quarter-final loss against Argentina on June 22, 1986.
It was the countries' first meeting since the Falklands War four years earlier.
In front of 114,580 spectators in Mexico City's Aztec Stadium, Maradona punched the ball over England goalkeeper Peter Shilton and a goal was allowed to stand by Tunisian referee Ali Bennaceur.
Maradona never admitted it was a handball, even though TV replays showed it clearly was, famously insisting that the "Hand of God" helped the ball into the net.
He went on to lead Argentina to victory over West Germany in the World Cup final that summer and also helped them reach the 1990 final which they lost.
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DIEGO MARADONA FACTFILE
Maradona lifts the World Cup. (Getty Images)
1960: Born Diego Armando Maradona, October 30, Buenos Aires. Fifth of eight children of a factory worker.
1976: Makes first division debut for Argentinos Juniors, 10 days before 16th birthday.
1977: Full international debut for Argentina.
1978: Fails to make squad for World Cup finals in Argentina.
1979: Captains Argentina to victory in World Youth Cup in Japan.
1981: Wins Argentinian League title with Boca Juniors.
1982: Moves to Barcelona for £1.875million after World Cup finals. Two unhappy seasons with the Spanish club are marred by illness and injury.
1984: Joins Italian giants Napoli for £4.68million.
1986: Scores infamous 'Hand of God' goal then adds brilliant second in 2-1 World Cup quarter-final defeat of England in Mexico. Leads Argentina to 3-2 triumph over West Germany in final.
1987: Helps Napoli to their first Italian league title.
1989: Clinches UEFA Cup winners' medal - Napoli's first triumph in Europe. Spends two months in Argentina, failing to return for start of Italian League season. Demands a transfer.
1990: Leads Napoli to their second Italian title before captaining Argentina to World Cup final in Italy, whey they lose 1-0 to Germany.
Misses Napoli training and matches, complaining of stress, and runs up more than £30,000 in fines for indiscipline. Becomes involved in paternity suit. Refuses to travel to Moscow for European Cup tie, turning up 24 hours later in a private jet.
1991: Fails dope test for cocaine and is investigated in connection with Naples vice ring and banned from game for 15 months. Arrested for taking cocaine shortly after return to Argentina and ordered by a judge to quit the habit under medical supervision.
1992: Refuses to return to Napoli after drugs ban and demands transfer. Joins Spanish club Sevilla for £4.68million.
1993: Returns to captain his country against Brazil in game marking 100th anniversary of the Argentinian FA. Sevilla refuse to pay outstanding £625,000 because he had "not met his obligations to the club". Quits and returns to Argentina. Sacked by Sevilla. Joins Argentinian club Newell's Old Boys. Makes international return in first leg of World Cup play-off against Australia. Also plays in second leg.
1994: Sacked by Newell's for missing training. When besieged by reporters at his home, fires airgun, wounding four (later set £25,000 bail). Scores penalty in friendly against Morocco, one of five internationals in build-up to World Cup. Appears in Argentina's opening two matches before giving positive dope test. Banned for 15 months and fined around £10,000 by FIFA for taking cocktail of performance-enhancing drugs.
1995: After two unsuccessful coaching stints with lower-division Argentinian clubs, returns to playing action with Boca Juniors in exhibition match in South Korea. He claims in a documentary to have kicked his bad habits and that he is totally devoted to his family.
1996: Books into a Swiss drugs clinic to try to finally combat his cocaine addiction. Specialist Dr Ricardo Grimson, who has been overseeing Maradona's addiction, says the star is in danger of sudden death.
1997: Begins fifth comeback, for Boca Juniors. But fails dope test after the first match of the season against Argentinos Juniors. Boca president Mauricio Macri said cocaine was found in his urine.
2000: Admitted to hospital in Uruguay with a severe heart condition after cocaine use.
2001: Begins discussions about playing in a friendly for Dundee alongside friend and former international team-mate Claudio Caniggia before eventually opting against travelling to Scotland.
2002: Ordered to pay £18million in taxes and interest by a Naples court. Escapes punishment for a scuffle with a photographer but given a suspended two-year jail sentence for shooting journalists in 1994.
2003: Meets his son Diego Armando Jr for the first time in 17 years.
2004: Admitted in a critical condition to a Buenos Aires hospital with breathing difficulties.