Maradona: Funeral worker who posed for photo with footballer’s body is fired

A funeral worker who took a selfie next to the open casket of Argentine football icon Diego Maradona as his body lay in state in Buenos Aires has been fired and begged for forgiveness.

The images, which were shared widely online, sparked international outrage – including death threats.

Claudio Fernandez told Radio Diez on Friday that he had lost his job at the Sepelios Pinier funeral home, along with his son Ismael and a third man.

In one image, a man can be seen giving a thumbs-up to the camera with one hand, while the other appears to be touching the forehead of the late World Cup winner, who died of a heart attack at his home on Wednesday, aged 60.

A third funeral worker appears in another photo in the same pose.Advertisement

Mr Fernandez said they hadn’t planned to take the photo. “It was something instantaneous. I’d just raised my head and my son did it like any kid of 18,” he told the radio station.

He said he had received threats from others living in the El Paternal neighbourhood where Maradona debuted as a professional in 1976 with the Argentinos Juniors team.