Maradona Is in Intensive Care
Former Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona was hospitalized in intensive care Sunday with heart and blood pressure problems.
Maradona, 43, was taken to a hospital hours after watching his former Argentine team, Boca Juniors, beat Nueva Chicago, 2-0, at Buenos Aires.
A statement from the Suizo-Argentina private clinic said Maradona was suffering from hypertension and an inflamed heart muscle, a condition known as dilated cardiomiopathy. The statement gave few details, but said he was in a critical-care unit.
Alfredo Cahe, Maradona’s physician, said the emergency hospitalization was not related to Maradona’s past drug use.
Maradona led Argentina to the World Cup title in 1986 and second place in 1990. In 2000, FIFA chose Maradona as the sport’s best ever, alongside Pele.
Mexican League
Salvador Cabanas scored the decisive goal and Jaguares of Chiapas defeated Atlante, 2-1, for their league-best 36th point.
Pumas of UNAM tied with Irapuato, 0-0, and defending champion Pachuca played to a 2-2 draw with Santos Laguna.
European Roundup
Celtic won its 39th Scottish title after beating Kilmarnock, 1-0, on Stilian Petrov’s goal.
In Spain, Miguel Angel “Mista” Ferrer scored an injury-time equalizer and Valencia tied with Real Sociedad, 2-2, after trailing 2-0 with 20 minutes remaining.
Real Madrid got goals from Ivan Helguera and Santiago Solari to beat cross-town rival Atletico de Madrid, 2-1.
Arsenal got four goals from Thierry Henry and demolished Leeds, 5-0, leaving it only two victories short of clinching the English Premier League title.
Kaka scored the game-winner for AC Milan with a diving header in the closing minutes to help the defending European champion beat Siena, 2-1, in Italy’s Serie A.
Perugia President Luciano Gaucci said the team would forfeit its last four games this season to protest the officiating of its games, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.
Gaucci said the team deserved a penalty kick in its 3-2 loss to Sampdoria, which left Perugia in danger of being relegated to the second division next season.
Panathinaikos stayed atop the Greek league after rallying to tie Olympiakos, 2-2, at Athens in a match marred by violence.
Police fired tear gas at hundreds of rioting fans outside the stadium before the game and at least three people were arrested.
Quick Passes
Jean had a hat trick and Flamengo rallied to defeat Vasco, 3-1, and win the Rio de Janeiro state title 5-2 on aggregate. A brawl prompted the ejection of several players at the end of the match. Vasco finished with seven players and Flamengo with nine.... South Korea’s Portuguese-born Coach Humberto Coelho resigned today after coming under fire for the team’s poor performance in a World Cup qualifier last month.
