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Maradona hit by Argentine tax probe
BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - Flawed football genius Diego Maradona is being probed by Argentina's central bank over possible personal accounting irregularities, an official said Wednesday.
The probe, requested by tax authorities, marks the latest colorful twist in the life of the troubled 46-year-old star, who was dogged by controversy throughout his glittering career and has since battled several health scares.
"There is no official statement, but what we know is that the Central Bank has opened an enquiry into the bank accounts," held by Maradona, the official source, close to the central bank said on condition of anonymity.
Maradona's life had been checkered by controversy since his retirement from football at the age of 37.
In 2006, Italian police stripped the star of two Rolex watches during a visit to Naples, in line with a judicial order requiring payment of a reported 31 million Euros (40 million dollars) worth of back taxes in Italy.
In April 2004 Maradona had a heart attack following a cocaine overdose and spent weeks in intensive care. He survived, but his weight ballooned to alarming levels, prompting him to undergo gastric bypass surgery in 2005.
He has recently garnered record audiences as a chat show host on Argentinian television, and was thrust to global attention in November 2005, when he took part in a demonstration against President George W. Bush and branded the US leader "human rubbish".
Maradona also cultivated a friendship with Cuban leader Fidel Castro, and the former Napoli and Boca Juniors star has made several trips to a rehab facility in Cuba.
Born October 30, 1960 just outside Buenos Aires, Maradona's life on the pitch was a compelling mix of sublimity and disgrace.
Maradona proved his genius in the crucible of the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico, with a series of brilliant displays which led Argentina to the title.
Two goals in the quarter-final against England encapsulated the noble and ugly sides of his game. The first strike was the notorious "Hand of God" effort, as Maradona fisted the ball over England goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
The stocky genius redeemed himself with the footballing Gods with his second goal however, capping a stunning individual run through most of the England team.
But the 1986 World Cup final triumph over Germany, was to prove the high-point of Maradona's career.
He tearfully refusing to shake hands with FIFA's president after Argentina lost a foul-tempered final 1-0 to Germany in Italy four years later.
Then, in 1991, the Italian Football Federation suspended him for 15 months for testing positive for cocaine. He was back in Argentina colors in the 1994 World Cup finals in the USA but was ejected from the tournament after failing a dope test for ephedrine.
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