Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona was detained at Rio de Janeiro airport today after he tried to force his way onto a flight that he was late for.
Police held Maradona, 45, for several hours in the morning before releasing him. He boarded a flight to Buenos Aires this afternoon.
Maradona, plagued by health problems since he retired in 1997, had played a benefit game organized by ex-Brazilian star and current Japan coach Zico in Rio de Janeiro yesterday.
He arrived late for a flight back to Argentina and began arguing with the staff of Brazilian airline TAM.
TAM said the boarding gate was closed when Maradona and four companions arrived. They damaged a door in the passageway to the plane and forced open a second door before police arrived, the airline said in a statement.
Maradona insulted an officer during an ensuing argument, but there was no physical violence, police said.
Fellow former Argentina player Alejandro Mancuso, who was with Maradona, told Argentine radio station Mitre that Maradona had been well-behaved and was on time for the flight.
"We arrived at the airport with Diego very quiet. We were in the duty-free shop. When they announced boarding, we approached and then they closed the plane door in our faces. The anger was logical and justified," he said.
