Maradona’s daughter: Don’t blame my dad’s death for record coronavirus numbers
Diego Maradona’s daughter has urged people not to blame her dad for Argentina’s rising number of coronavirus cases in an emotional open letter.
According to The Sun of UK, critics of the public wake which took place after the legend’s untimely death on November 25 raised concerns at the time over the effect of the mass gathering on the South American nation’s coronavirus situation.
The day ended with violent clashes between the police and some fans outside the Casa Rosada, before Maradona’s coffin was driven to a cemetery on the outskirts of Buenos Aires by a police-accompanied motorcade past a massive crowd.
Argentina this week recorded the highest number of new Covid-19 cases in two months, with the province of Buenos Aires suffering the most.
Giannina Maradona, the youngest of the late footballer’s two daughters with ex-wife Claudia Villafane and the former partner of Man City star Sergio Aguero, rallied against critics after the figures were made public.
She stated: “What happened on November 25 is not Maradona’s fault.
“I would have preferred to have stayed in a room alone with my family and for people not to have blamed him for the spread of the virus.
“Have some respect for him now he is in heaven and have some respect for those of us that are still here, mourning a father, a brother, a grandfather, a friend.
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I can go to see him as many times as I want without people looking at me to see what I’m doing or not doing or taking pictures of me.
“I didn’t really want to go to the Casa Rosada on the 25th.
“But they decided it’s what my dad deserved and we went.”
Giannina also revealed she and her family turned down an attempt by the authorities to extend the public wake by one day to three.
Of the decision to bury her father at private cemetery Jardin Bella Vista on to the north-west of Buenos Aires, where Diego’s parents were also laid to rest, she added: “He’s with his mum and dad as he wanted.
“Is it a private place? Yes.
“It means I can go to see him as many times as I want without people looking at me to see what I’m doing or not doing or taking pictures of me and publishing them with some horrible headline.”
Giannina and her elder sister Dalma were among a group of family and close friends who carried Diego’s coffin in an intimate funeral attended by around 40 people.
His controversial lawyer and former girlfriend Rocio Oliva were noticeable absentees.