Diego Maradona tells full truth behind ‘Hand of God’ and disgust among Argentina team
England were cheated out of the 1986 World Cup due to Diego Maradona’s handball and the legendary No10 admits even his Argentina team-mates were left unimpressed
Diego Maradona has admitted his Argentina team-mates were left as sick to the stomach as England’s players after his ‘Hand of God’ goal at the 1986 World Cup.
The No10’s infamous punch past Peter Shilton is still one of the most, if not the most, controversial moments in footballing history.
Officials missed 5ft 4in Maradona getting his hand to the ball first ahead of 6ft England goalkeeper Shilton.
As Maradona shamelessly wield away celebrating, even his international colleagues were left bemused by what had happened.
In an interview with programme ‘Detras de Escena’ (Behind the Scene) broadcast by Argentine streaming platform AFA Play, Maradona has revealed the full truth to what went on in the moments surrounding the goal.
Referencing England’s physical presence, Maradona said: “I was looking for a wall because the English were rocks. Fenwick, Butcher… All the defenders were huge.
“[Kenny] Sansom gave me the pass. Valdano did not give me the pass. Sansom anticipated it and wanted to play it back.
“In those days we did not play in the back. When you did, the goalkeeper would continue the play so when I saw the ball going up and up and up. I thought ‘I am never going to reach it. Please come down.’
“Then I got an idea, to put my hand and my head in. I came down and (former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Peter) Shilton did not know where the ball was.
“I looked back and I saw it was in the net. I start yelling ‘goal, goal!’ Then (former River Plate midfielder Sergio Batista) 'Checho ', the dumba***, told me ‘but you scored it with your hand’.
“I told him ‘Shut up idiot and give me a hug!’ Then everyone started hugging me. (Former Real Madrid superstar Jorge) Valdano then told me ‘Don’t tell me you scored it with your hand.’
I just told him: “I will tell you later Valdano. Stop busting my balls.”
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Former Tottenham Hotspur centre-half Terry Fenwick and ex-England captain Terry Butcher started the 2-1 World Cup quarter-final loss to Argentina.
And they were among those who were left incensed by the blatant cheating from Maradona, who then iconically went on to score one of the great solo goals in the same match, weaving his way past the entire England team from inside Argentina’s own half.
The Three Lions, managed by Sir Bobby Robson at the time, have never been able to forgive Maradona.