THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ROME — Diego Maradona’s diamond earring has sold for 25,000 euros (C$37,340) at an auction to help pay off his 37-million-euro (C$55 million) Italian tax bill.
Giovanni Lombardo of the Equitalia agency which organized the auction says an unidentified woman purchased the earring, which was valued at 5,500 euros (C$8,215).
Italian tax police seized the earring in September when the Argentina coach was in northern Italy at a hotel being treated for weight gain and stress.
Maradona’s Italian debts stem from unpaid taxes when he played for Napoli from 1984 to 1991, when he helped the club win its only two Serie A titles.
Lombardo called the auction in Bolzano a "drop in the bucket" of Maradona’s debts but said it sends a message that even celebrities have to pay taxes.
In 2006, tax police took two Rolex watches from Maradona when he went to a Naples suburb for a news conference and benefit appearance. Authorities also seized the payment Maradona received for an appearance on Italian state TV.
He isn’t the only athlete or celebrity to have been targeted by the Italian tax authorities.
In 2008, seven-time motorcycling world champion Valentino Rossi paid about 19 million euros (C$28.4 million) to settle a tax dispute over alleged undeclared earnings.
In 2000, tenor Luciano Pavarotti agreed to pay nearly 25 billion lire (US$19.3 million) to the Italian state after unsuccessfully claiming that the tax haven of Monte Carlo, rather than Italy, was his official residence.
Actress Sophia Loren spent 17 days in prison in 1982 for tax evasion.