We’d be kissing him too if it was us.
Before the metacarpal manipulation of Luis Suarez and Thierry Henry there was this.
The ‘Hand of God’ goal managed to overshadow the incredible solo strike from Maradona that was to prove crucial in knocking England out of the World Cup in 1986.
The referee that day was Ali Bennaceur from Tunisia who, after realising his massive blunder, never took charge of another game.
England fans and players probably hate him but Maradona presumably says a daily ‘thank you’ to him for his very obvious mistake.
And now pictures have emerged of Maradona showing his gratefulness towards Bennaceur with more than just a private ‘thanks’.
The former Napoli man is currently in Africa and linked up with the ex-official who presented the World Cup winner with a framed photo of himself flanked by the two captains before the match.
Maradona returned the favour, offering a gift of a jersey for the 71-year-old former referee, which was inscribed with, “For Ali, my eternal friend”.
Maradona, today, paid a visit to former Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser: famously officiated ARG-ENG at World Cup '86 pic.twitter.com/uK0baoFp2A
— Mohamed Moallim (@iammoallim) August 17, 2015
Bennaceur sounds like someone who enjoyed the attention that came with one of the most infamous games and goals of all time.
In interviews afterwards he sought to deflect the blame from him onto linesman Bogdan Dotchev.
“Before the game, FIFA gave us clear guidelines: ‘If your colleague is better placed than you are, his decision should take precedence.’
“That’s what I did: my assistant did not raise his flag.”
Saucily enough, he also takes credit for the incredible second solo goal scored by Maradona.
“Maradona did not score that all by himself, that goal. I was his assistant: I played three advantages. I did not have to. For the first foul, he stumbled. The second came just on the edge of the area. I shouted, ‘Advantage, advantage’. And when he entered the area, I was expecting (Terry) Butcher to slice him down. I put my whistle to my lips, I was ready to intervene but I didn’t blow.”
H/T Kickoff.com
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