Diego Maradona, the former Argentinian international, has been confronted with a formal notice from the Italian tax authorities demanding 39 million euros in taxes, including penalties. The authorities allege that Maradona failed to fulfill his tax obligations during his time with SSN Napoli. In 2005, he was convicted of tax fraud and was initially required to pay 37 million euros. However, legal proceedings were protracted, and in 2011, Italian authorities took over the case.
Maradona denies the accusations and prefers to remember his achievements during his time in Italy, including 115 goals and three cup victories. This situation prompts discussions about the conduct of players concerning tax authorities, reminiscent of the case involving Lionel Messi, who faced accusations of hiding 4 million euros from the Spanish tax authorities. In Italy, where the tax rate is 50%, some view Maradona as a victim rather than a fraudster. He received applause after addressing the issue on a local television channel.
