Diego Maradona: Remembering the Time Legend Starter a War on The Pitch in 1984

• The late great Diego Maradona is responsible for the most memorable fight in football history
• Despite his God-given talents, Maradona was also infamous for taking matters into his own hands, sometimes with devastating results
• In 1984, Barcelona’s Maradona instigated a massive brawl at full time after a match against Athletic Bilbao
• For context, the beef dates back nine months before the game, when Maradona had his ankle broken by a Bilbao player

Diego Maradona will be remembered for the many achievements he had on the football pitch in his illustrious playing career.

The late Argentine legend is also infamous for one of the most memorable football Royal Rumbles in history.

The year was 1984 in the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao and everything was at stake for both teams.

Going into the game, there were several subplots, and one was particularly significant for Maradona.

Vlahovic double for Juve sinks Sassuolo, Napoli's Osimhen abused in Verona rout

Football

Nine months before the final, Andoni Goikoetxea, better known as the 'Butcher of Bilbao’ severely hurt Maradona, crippling his ankle and leaving the Argentine out for months in the two teams’ previous meeting.

It is safe to assume Maradona still had that incident in mind going into the Copa del Rey final, and there was clear tension between the two sides long before the game.

As reported by The Guardian, there were boos before kickoff as the Basques and Catalans jeered the national anthem in clear protest of the Spanish state.

Once the game got underway, it was a devoid of footballing quality in all honesty as the opening stages were mostly characterized by careless challenges with Athletic defender Iñigo Liceranzu tempting fate by testing out Maradona’s healing ankle with some malicious challenges.

Spanish press criticise Robert Lewandowski following his tough start at Barcelona

Football

Tension was rising throughout the game and tempers threatened to flare but in terms of goals, it was Bilbao who got the goal through Endika in the 13th minute.

That would be the only goal scored in an encounter that saw the referee brandish seven yellow cards.

Barcelona’s failure to score could also be attributed to the sturdy Athletic Bilbao defence with the great Andoni Zubizarreta guarding the goal.

By the time the final whistle blew, Maradona was squaring up to José María Núñez in the classic forehead-to-forehead manner.

Meanwhile, Athletic fans in the stands were in wild celebrations for winning the double and eventually, the metal fences were ripped down and substitutes and coaches soon invaded the pitch.

What ensued was a melee as Maradona decided to release the pent-up frustrations that had been growing throughout the match.

Unused substitute Miguel Ángel Sola who in a full tracksuit was Maradona’s first victim as he was struck on the chin by the Argentine who went in with a kung-Fu knee kick.

Jordi Alba involved in heated exchange with Rayo Vallecano player after Barcelona goalless draw at Camp Nou

Football

Athletic players by this time, interrupted their celebrations to jump into the fight which, at this point, threatened to get out of hand.

Riot Police were eventually called to disperse the fight and escort Barcelona players off the pitch.

Interestingly, this would end up being Maradona’s final game in a Blaugrana shirt as he moved to Napoli where he established himself as a legend for the club.