“He Was Not a Tax Evader” – Italy’s Supreme Court Calls Diego Maradona Innocent 3 Years After His Death

Late Argentine legend Diego Maradona has finally won his legal battle against the Italian tax authorities. Despite three years since his tragic passing, the icon’s lawyers were desperately fighting the case to clear his name in the tax evasion case. It would have been one of the valuable moments for the Albiceleste legend, who spent most of his final years fighting the case to prove his innocence.

Things turned sour between the former Napoli icon and the Italian tax authorities in the 2010s. They accused Maradona of evading his tax bills, with the Italian tax authorities claiming the Argentine owed the government $67.4 million in unpaid taxes. According to their complaints, the Argentine had avoided paying taxes from 1984 to 1991, building up the enormous unpaid tax bill.

Italian Supreme Court clears Diego Maradona’s name in tax evasion case

It is a momentous occasion for Diego Maradona fans around the world with the Argentine declared innocent in a three-decade-long tax evasion case. With this declaration, the court has stood by the previous ruling in 2021 that claimed that the Argentine had paid all his dues.

According to the statement released by the Italian Supreme Court, “The Court of Cassation agrees with Maradona, establishes that he was not a tax evader, quashing the previous decision and ruling in his favor despite three denials which saw him losing, and also against the opinion, also negative, given by the deputy prosecutor general Alessandro Pepe.”

Maradona’s close friend and lawyer, Angelo Pisani, was elated following the ruling. However, he slammed the tax authorities for making life harsh for the Napoli star, stating that the authorities should be held responsible for the misery Maradona suffered for the last thirty years before his unfortunate passing.

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Maradona left an everlasting legacy at Napoli

While Diego Armando Maradona may be an iconic soccer player for many, he’s an emotion for Napoli. The Argentine was more than a soccer player for the people in Naples. The Argentine star signed for the side in 1984 and transformed one of the weakest sides across Italy into one of the flag-bearers of European soccer.

The Albiceleste legend helped the side bag the Scudetto in 1987 and followed it up, winning it again three seasons later in 1990. During his illustrious stint, the 1986 World Cup winner emerged as the cornerstone of the side.

Maradona made 257 appearances for Napoli during his six years at the club, bagging 115 goals and 71 assists. While his time at the club came to an end owing to an unfortunate arrest, fans across the city still hold the player on the highest pedestal.

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