Diego Maradona blames bizarre World Cup behaviour on white wine binge in VIP box

Argentina’s football legend Diego Maradona blamed his bizarre behaviour at the World Cup on a white wine binge in the VIP box.

The 57-year-old was filmed dancing wildly, unveiling a flag of himself, struggling to stand and apparently falling asleep before goading the crowd with a middle-finger salute.

Hoax rumours swept social media that he had died when he was pictured having his pulse checked by medics after Argentina’s late goal sealed a tense 2-1 victory against Nigeria in St Petersburg.

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As his private jet touched down in Moscow in the early hours today, Maradona sent a voice message to a friend and journalist to explain his performance.

In the recording, which was released online, he said: “Where we were they were only serving white wine. Yes, we drank all the wine, but now I’m talking to you and I’m telling you the truth.”

He added: “At the end of the first half we went to eat. I like red wine and there was white wine.”

Maradona sent another voice message to his partner Rocio Olivia, saying: “Hello my love. No heart attack, no injection, nothing.”

Then, before going to bed, he took to Instagram to insist in Spanish, Italian and English: “I want to tell everyone that I am fine [and] that I am not, neither was I, interned. In the half-time of the game against Nigeria, my neck hurt a lot and I suffered a decompensation. I was checked by a doctor and he recommended me to go home before the second half, but I wanted to stay because we were risking it all.”