THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ROME — Italian police didn’t want the shirt off former soccer star Diego Maradona’s back — just his earrings.
Tax authorities visited the Argentina coach at an Alpine resort Friday and took away a pair of earrings as part payment of the former Napoli star’s unpaid tax bill.
The Bolzano Provincial Tax Police said Maradona handed over the pair of earrings, worth US$5,900. The Italian news agency ANSA said the tax bill stands at about $54 million.
Tax police in the capital of the South Tyrol declined to describe the earrings taken from the Grand Hotel Palace in Merano. An Italian television network reported that they contained diamonds.
Police did not say whether Maradona was wearing them when it was time to pay up.
Three years ago, tax police took two Rolex watches during his appearance at a news conference and benefit in a Naples suburb.
Maradona, 48, served as captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup title, and had some stellar seasons for Napoli from 1984 to 1991. He helped the club win its two Serie A championships, the UEFA Cup and the Italian Cup.
He was kicked out of the 1994 World Cup and banned for 15 months for failing a doping test for stimulants. He was near death on a respirator five years ago after a heart attack attributed to a cocaine overdose.
With two qualifying games remaining next month, Argentina is in danger of missing its first World Cup since 1970, and Maradona is taking much of the blame.