Diego Maradona laid to rest amid clashes in Buenos Aires as thousands pay respects

Fans sing and hold Argentinian flags in a mood resembling that of a football crowd

Late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona was buried at the Jardin Bella Vista cemetery, in Buenos Aires province, on November 26, 2020. AFP

Relatives and friends carry the coffin of the late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona. AFP

Fans next to the hearse carrying the late Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires. AFP

Fans next to the hearse carrying the late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona on its way from Casa Rosada presidential palace to the cemetery, in Buenos Aires. AFP

Aerial view of the burial of late Diego Maradona at the Jardin Bella Vista cemetery, in Buenos Aires. AFP

Diego Maradona was laid to rest at the Jardin Bella Vista cemetery. AFP

Fans follow the funeral procession of Diego Maradona from the Plaza de Mayo to the cemetery in Buenos Aires. EPA

Fans follow the funeral procession carrying the remains of Diego Maradona. EPA

Fans observe the funeral procession of Diego Maradona. EPA

People react during a tribute to the late Argentine great Diego Maradona, outside the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires. Bloomberg

People stand in front of the Argentina flag in half-mast during a tribute to the late Argentine football star Diego Maradona, outside the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires. Bloomberg

A man cries as he carries his child on his shoulders next to police blocking access to the Jardin de Bellavista cemetery during the funeral of Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires. AP

Police officers try to contain the crowd as fans tried to climb over the fence to enter Casa Rosada during Diego Maradona's funeral. Getty

Fans try to climb over the fence to enter Casa Rosada during Diego Maradona's funeral. Getty

Police moved to cut off the back end of the crowd, enraging fans who hurled rocks and other objects at officers, who responded with rubber bullets. Reuters

Clashes broke out in Argentina on Thursday as thousands turned out in the capital Buenos Aires to pay their respects to the recently deceased football star and national hero Diego Maradona.

Singing songs and holding Argentinian flags, the crowd resembled that of a football stadium at times.

Fans formed a line that stretched more than 20 blocks from the Plaza de Mayo, where Argentinians gathered to celebrate the Maradona-led triumph in the 1986 World Cup.

But chaos broke out as the time to view the coffin at the presidential palace drew to a close, with some growing frustrated at not being able to pay their respects to Maradona.

Police moved to cut off the back end of the crowd, enraging fans who hurled rocks and other objects at officers. They responded with rubber bullets.

The crowd overwhelmed organisers and the violence resulted in injuries and arrests, which led Maradona's family to end the public visit.

Some fans climbed on the fences of the presidential mansion while firefighters worked to clear the ground.

“Diego is not dead, Diego lives in the people,” fans chanted as the coffin was taken to a cemetery outside Buenos Aires.

The motorcade, accompanied by police, was followed on a local motorway by dozens of honking cars and motorcycles.

Maradona died Wednesday of a heart attack in a house outside Buenos Aires, where he had been recovering from a brain operation on November 3.

The football legend was laid to rest after a ceremony attended by family and close friends at the Bella Vista cemetery outside Buenos Aires.

Tributes poured in from around the world following the star's death.

Lionel Messi, Argentina's modern-day superstar, led the tributes as he said: "He has left us but he will never leave us because Diego is eternal."

Brazilian legend Pele, 80, said he hoped they would one day "play together in the sky."