Argentina’s Diego Maradona Admits That He Cheated in World Cup Match

Diego Maradona, who led Argentina to victory in this year’s World Cup soccer tournament in Mexico, said that he used his hand to score a vital goal against England, according to a British press report Sunday.

In what London’s Sunday Express described as an exclusive interview with Maradona at Naples, Italy, Maradona was quoted as saying that he punched the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton as they both tried to reach it during a quarterfinal match in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium.

At the time, press reports quoted Maradona as saying it was “the hand of God” that had put the ball into the net to help Argentina score a 2-1 win over England.

According to the Sunday Express, however, Maradona said through an interpreter, “Of course, it was not the hand of God. It was me.

“A lot goes on in a game and I am cunning. I know what I have to do and that time I was very lucky.”

Maradona is the target of press reports in Italy over his girlfriend’s pregnancy and a paternity suit filed by another woman.

He was quoted by the Express as saying: “I used to sleep 14 hours a day. Now I cannot sleep a second. I am too upset by this business.”