Premier League - Maradona's cigar sparks Chelsea alarm

Eurosport - Mon, 12 Jan 13:09:00 2009

Chelsea's preparations for their match against Manchester United were disrupted in the early hours of Sunday morning by a fire alarm reportedly started by Argentina legend Diego Maradona's cigar.

2006 Diego Maradona smokes a cigar - 0

Luiz Felipe Scolari's side had to evacuate the Radisson Edwardian Hotel in Manchester after alarms sounded at seven o'clock, and players were spotted standing outside in freezing conditions, some wearing just towels and bathrobes.

An eyewitness told The Sun: "I saw most of Chelsea outside shivering. It wasn't the best preparation for a vital game."

Argentina manager Maradona was in Manchester to see United striker Carlos Tevez, although the 24-year-old played no part in the game as a lacklustre Chelsea side were beaten 3-0.

Greater Manchester Fire Service said they could not reveal what caused the alarm, a fireman said that Maradona and his associates were to blame.

"It looks as though it was set off by Diego and his entourage smoking cigars on the 14th floor," the fireman told The Sun.

Two fire trucks came to the hotel but they discovered no fire in the 263-room hotel.

Hotel manager Steve Miles said: "We followed procedure. It was a genuine alarm."

United suffered their own disruption before the game after their coach driver lost his keys.

The driver smashed a window to gain access to the team bus, but triggered an immobiliser and engineers had to be called to start the engine.

The broken window was visible as the United squad arrived at Old Trafford.

A club spokesman said: "It was accidental, there was nothing sinister about it."

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 33 - 52 of 72

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  1. Remember the goal that never was - was in the world cup - 1966

    From css, on Mon 12 Jan 12:44PM

  2. He using his hand to smoke...and....to score a goal ....to win the world cup...but He didn't use his hand to kill anyone.So....Diego.....keep getting high while you can...haha

    From brandon78le, on Mon 12 Jan 12:36PM

  3. Mr. Maradona should not be involved in football in any way, not only is he a cheat for his so called hand of god incident but I would'nt mind betting that for the bulk of games he was playing around then he was probably under the influence of drugs, a wonderful father figure to children wanting to play the noble game don't you think? How come is it that the bulk of cheats in our game are already amongst the most talented in the world, if referees spent more time weeding these people out and penalising them for cheating then perhaps we might just get to see players at their real best, but this will never happen because the bulk of cheats play for the big four and referees are just to weak to cope with them.

    From KS, on Mon 12 Jan 12:33PM

  4. I agree, Zidane should be in the top 5

    From brandon78le, on Mon 12 Jan 12:23PM

  5. GIVE THAT MAN A CIGAR !!!!!!! nice one diego .

    From RICH T, on Mon 12 Jan 12:22PM

  6. I am sorry to people who likes Diego but i must say that he is a big shame for the football because not only of handball goal but for doping and if people want the kids to be a great fotballer like him it means they are on the way to create many drug takers and people who can shoot any body.I must say Pele is much better to inspire people and kids and especially players who need some moral becuase people were thinking he is fifnished he come back and win a world cup in 1970.I amd 500% agree with POP. and wonder where the world have its Judgement when maradone and messi score with their hands its HAND OF GOD and if gilardino scores with his hand he is banned for 4 matches.

    From Haji Abdullah, on Mon 12 Jan 12:19PM

  7. So' what's next...?? :P

    From miDiKarma, on Mon 12 Jan 12:18PM

  8. you just cant compare players from different era's. On paper you can look at what they won, and look how much silverware, so Zidane should be up there but no one ever mentions him, cause he's not a legend yet...when does he become one? ten years after he's hung up his boots?

    From Tom, on Mon 12 Jan 12:15PM

  9. hey, he can smokes anytime he wants. keep it up Diego, keep showing up in England , The winner of '86 is always you and Argentina.

    From brandon78le, on Mon 12 Jan 12:13PM

  10. Good ole Maradonna.

    From avanze, on Mon 12 Jan 12:12PM

  11. lol, when you are smokin cigars at 7am... you know you're hardcore..

    From Karl, on Mon 12 Jan 11:58AM

  12. Just like to say that Maradonna was a great player and also it is a fact that nigh on EVERY football player will, given the opportunity cheat, to gain their team advantage. It is because winning is the aim!!!! Just because Maradonna cheated and scored against England it doesn`t make it any worse than if e.g Ballack or Owen dives in the penalty area or Ronaldo plays on when the ball goes over the touchline.
    The referee and the stupid linesman are the ones who didn`t see the Maradonna handball!!!

    From pop, on Mon 12 Jan 11:58AM

  13. "Football isn't called handball"-" He's a cheat, and that shouldn't be forgotten"
    norfolk_aprilia every weekend we see players in the premiership handballing. Terry handballed yesterday twice and no penalty given. It doesn't matter how you score or you defend, you can use every part of your body. If you can get away with it than do it.
    That's why is call Football. No one says is a fair game.
    Yes Best was a great player no dispute about it. However if you ask any player in premiership they will tell is only one Maradona!
    The guy was a genius and nothing to be ashamed to be fooled by a genius.

    From Ilir, on Mon 12 Jan 11:57AM

  14. He was not good enough to clean Eusebio`s boots still people talk more about him then the formidable "Black Panther"

    From VICTOR V, on Mon 12 Jan 11:56AM

  15. maradona=legend in all aspects!
    england= jealous cos theyve never seen anything like the player

    england wer never gona win that game anyway cos bottom line is you wer @#$%

    get over it an stop living in the past!

    From Danny, on Mon 12 Jan 11:54AM

  16. cigars at 7 in the morning, dirty diego....

    From glenn, on Mon 12 Jan 11:50AM

  17. For all persons who claim that Maradona is a cheater, we can also say that every player that dive for a penalty is a cheater, everyone that simulate a foul to make an opponent get a yellow card or a red one is a cheater, everyone who gets a goal from an offside is a cheater, so probably half of the world football players will be cheaters, as for English fans who can't forgive The Best player ever for the hand of god, at least respect the player he was, because probably you will never see another player like him as every legend (except probably Messi...).

    From gabykh10, on Mon 12 Jan 11:49AM

  18. Did Maradonna get done for smoking inside a public building? There can't be one rule for one and one for another surely

    From girlyslave, on Mon 12 Jan 11:47AM

  19. Cheater of '86 : of course...Maradona
    Loser of '86 : well...England
    The bottom line is: Who is the winner?...Of course....Maradona and Argentina.

    From brandon78le, on Mon 12 Jan 11:41AM

  20. Mista (Post #28) - Maradona is a @#$% - how's that for respect?

    From Ashley B, on Mon 12 Jan 11:40AM
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