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More problems for Maradona as court orders investigation

Diego Maradona, seen in this photograph taken last year, is being probed by Argentina's Central Bank over possible personal accounting irregularities, an official said on Wednesday. PHOTO: AFP

Diego Maradona's money transfers and other transactions are being investigated by a court at the request of tax authorities, the nation's Central Bank confirmed on Wednesday.

The court has asked the bank to gather information from its affiliated institutions about Maradona's transfers, fixed deposits and other transactions since 2005.

In a statement, the Central Bank said it was merely collecting information for the court and was not taking part in the investigation.

Maradona had no immediate comment.

Maradona led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title and went on to be one of soccer's greatest players. He later battled cocaine addiction and obesity. In 2001, he was voted by FIFA as one of the greatest players in soccer history, alongside Brazil's Pele.

He has since dabbled in other activities, briefly hosting his own television talk show and appearing at charity and sporting events worldwide.

Maradona has had an ongoing dispute with Italian tax authorities, who say he owes US$38.5 million in unpaid income taxes. The debt dates back to a five-year period in the late 1980s, when the Argentine played for Napoli in Serie A and led the team to its only Italian league titles in 1987 and 1990.

In June, Italian tax officials seeking to recover some of the debt confiscated two Rolex watches -- valued at US$13,000 -- from the former player, who was in the country for a benefit appearance.

In 2000, in what doctors said was a brush with death, Maradona was hospitalized in the Uruguayan beach resort of Punta del Este and doctors said his heart was pumping at less than half its capacity. Blood and urine samples turned up traces of cocaine, authorities said. He later went to Cuba for rehabilitation.
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