- Diego Maradona’s lawyer has offered a bounty of 300,000 pesos ($10,800) to find the journalists responsible for spreading fake news about his death.
- Maradona’s eccentric behaviour at a recent FIFA World Cup match captured the imagination of social media and the internet.
- He binged on white wine, fell asleep, swore at fans below his VIP box, and required medical attention before flying to Moscow in a private jet.
- The bizarre series of events generated fake news, with two Spanish-language audio clips claiming the 1986 World Cup winner had suffered a heart attack and was dead.
- Maradona says this is not true and that he is, contrary to reports, “more alive than ever.”
- Read all of Business Insider’s World Cup coverage here.
Diego Maradona has issued a bounty worth 300,000 pesos ($10,800 / £8,300) to find the journalist responsible for reporting fake news regarding his death, according to Infobae via Goal.com.
Two Spanish-language audio clips claimed Maradona had suffered a heart attack and died, shortly after news emerged of his eccentric and bizarre behaviour during – and after – Argentina’s 2-1 victory over Nigeria in a FIFA World Cup group game on Tuesday.
Maradona’s out-of-control antics overshadowed the match itself as he was caught on video celebrating strangely, dancing with a Nigerian soccer fan, and then falling asleep at half-time.
After he woke up he swore at soccer fans below his VIP box, required assistance to leave his seat, and had his pulse checked by paramedics after the final whistle.
The extraordinary series of events captured the imagination of social media and the internet.
An ESPN Deportes Radio journalist tweeted that Maradona was hospitalised - something the 1986 World Cup winner vehemently denied in an Instagram post, where he said he was "fine" while aboard a private jet. He had apparently just had neck pain and one too many glasses of white wine.
But the fake news did not stop there - and the audio clips appeard to claim that Maradona was dead.
Now, Maradona's lawyer is trying to track down those responsible. "I have made public the decision to give a reward of 300,000 pesos for anyone who can provide accurate information on the person who put the audio together," the lawyer told Infobae via Goal.com.
"Often it is thought that, in these issues, little can be done. But my studio tell me they consulted with experts in technology and you can get to know who put it together. That's why we need someone to provide us with information."
Maradona told Venezuelan TV that he is not dead. He said he is "more alive than ever."
According to Telesur via Goal.com, he said: "There has been talk of stretchers, ambulances on the internet which triggered a cycle of meaningless lies.
"I want to let the whole world know that I'm more alive than ever."
