That moment when 'Hand of God' meets his saviour....Diego Maradona
kissed and hugged the referee who allowed his handball goal in the 1986
World Cup and presented him with a signed Argentina jersey when the two
met in Tunisia this week.
Maradona's quarter-final goal against England in Mexico City gained
added notoriety when the tiny Argentine, who tapped the ball over the
head of onrushing goalkeeper Peter Shilton with his fist, claimed it had
been scored by the 'Hand of God'.
Tunisian referee Ali Bennaceur failed to spot the handball and allowed
the goal to stand amid furious protests from the England players,
prompting a debate, that still rages on today, over the use of referees
from smaller nations in major matches.
The pair exchange gifts for the cameras when they met in Tunis on Monday
with Bennaceur handing the former Argentina skipper a framed photo of
himself, Maradona and Shilton, who captained England, before the match
at the Azteca Stadium.
In return, the 71-year-old former referee received a Maradona shirt
inscribed with the words "For Ali, my eternal friend".
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