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 13 - 32 of 72

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  1. Maradonna wasn't the best ever, i doubt many people­ ever saw him play for his club sides, so stop basing­ everything on the world cup.
    Football isn't called­ handball, if people are allowed to score with their­ hands then games would end 50-35 every time. He's a­ cheat, and that shouldn't be forgotten.
    pele was by­ far the best ever player.

    From norfolk_aprilia, on Mon 12 Jan 11:37AM

  2. Alarm MARADONA on fire xD

    From hapsi1990, on Mon 12 Jan 11:32AM

  3. Akmal#28. he's an effing cheat.

    From gary.parks, on Mon 12 Jan 11:19AM

  4. What exactly is a lagend?

    From Nick B, on Mon 12 Jan 11:14AM

  5. he did what eney footballer would have done.im sure if­ he new he whas going to score again he would not have­ done it. still that whas 26years ago.tosay he was best­ player in world.sit back and look at the past great­ players dosent come near

    From baz49, on Mon 12 Jan 11:14AM

  6. No body blaming Maradona for the Blues defeated, but to­ start a day with such disaster which causes by that­ obese- drug addict-ugly Argentinian Maradona's­ cigar, wasn't a good way on starting a new day­ especially on a big task.
    MU won simply bcos they­ played better, no excuse.:)

    From Hamimah, on Mon 12 Jan 11:10AM

  7. george best the name said it all

    From baz49, on Mon 12 Jan 11:02AM

  8. maradona is the greatest footballer..CRonaldo is so far­ away behind..not even any footballer can matched­ him..he is a lagend..so he should be respected..~

    From mista akmal, on Mon 12 Jan 10:59AM

  9. @tommihew..I agree wit u..but dat makes maradona and­ pele ahead of their time, aint it?

    From taiwo, on Mon 12 Jan 10:58AM

  10. some of u guys are sore losers...its time to move on­ after so many years...this article isnt even bout that­ world cup!!!

    From Unknown U, on Mon 12 Jan 10:56AM

  11. This was written by a Chelsea fan. Any excuse to try­ and save the fact that the blues are S*** And, I'm­ not even a Manu U fan. ha ha!

    From lee, on Mon 12 Jan 10:50AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Diego is god, of course he 've got the hand of god

    From brandon78le, on Mon 12 Jan 10:48AM

  13. taiwo e, - Pele first, Best second. Maradona too much­ of a cheat to be considered better than these two. ­ Typical argentinian, cheat all the way through.

    From Mike S, on Mon 12 Jan 10:45AM

  14. as for the hand of God issue..dats classic football,­ deal wit it..maradona saw his chance and he took it­ '86 and the referee awarded the goal..86 doent take­ anything away from maradona..still greatest after­ pele..

    From taiwo, on Mon 12 Jan 10:42AM

  15. I cant believe how ridiculous people can be. how can a­ sane person or a real football fan compare maradona to­ halfbaked footballers like lampard, rooney, beckham.­ Maradona is next after pele, does dat freaking mean­ anything to anybody out there? Maradona, pele, zico,­ socrates played football when there was no money to be­ made..they played for the love of the game..Maradona­ deserves respect, period! Chelsea fans should be of­ good sport and stop making silly excuses..

    From taiwo, on Mon 12 Jan 10:38AM

  16. Maradonna was a great player but we all remember the­ '86 goal and the'hand of God' moment, but­ lets get a few things clear....for his wonder goal he­ ran through a group of players with a combined age of­ 400 atleast, Peter Reid was waiting for the ring and­ ride ffs, my gran looked as good trying to retrieve a­ cabbage she'd dropped in Asda.
    As for the 'hand­ of God' moment i don't blame Maradonna ,all­ players try to gain an advantage for their team, i­ blame Shilton, a man so immobile its untrue, Mr flat­ diver, he couldn't out-jump the pigmy Argentinian,­ what an absolute @#$% bag, not enough blame has been­ lumped onto those earthbound shoulders of his.
    As you­ can see i'm only slowly healing 23 years later.

    From M L, on Mon 12 Jan 10:36AM

  17. United!!!

    From djjmikic, on Mon 12 Jan 10:32AM

  18. I was around in 1986 & Maradonna broke many English­ hearts that day, for that he'll never be forgiven­ by the England fans, no matter how good a player he­ was
    if he was so great why did he need to cheat, ask­ yourself that!

    From Eluive, on Mon 12 Jan 10:30AM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hotiilir - obviously you never saw George Best in his­ prime then did you. Maradona was brilliant. Best more­ so.

    From Mike S, on Mon 12 Jan 10:24AM

  20. Now that was the hand of God!

    From M L, on Mon 12 Jan 10:24AM
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