Sports

Diego Maradona's Earring Auctions Off For $36,400

by Yuliya Talmazan | January 14, 2010 at 12:20 pm

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An earring belonging to Diego Maradona, a former soccer player and current head coach of Argentina's national soccer team, was auctioned off for $36,400. But, Maradona's earring was not sold to raise money for a charity. Instead, the funds it fetched will help the controversial footballer pay off his tax debt estimated at 37 million euros, 23.5 million of which are accrued interest on unpaid tax. Maradona owes massive amounts of debt due to tax evasion during his time in Italy. Maradona's private belongings like his luxury watches and jewelry were confiscated to pay off the debt.

Giovanni Lombardo was in charge of the auction. The earring valued at $8,000 was sold to a female bidder.

The white gold earring, which came with a copy of a police charge sheet with Maradona's signature, was bought by a woman with a Neapolitan accent at an auction in Bolzano, in north-eastern Italy.

"We will be unrelenting in prosecuting tax evaders, be they famous or not so famous. This is a blow for justice on behalf of those citizens who pay their taxes," said Marco Cuccagna, the head of the Italian debt collection agency, Equitalia.

Maradona became the coach of Argentina's national soccer team in November 2008, but has faced a suspension from FIFA and criticism from the fans for using abusive language with journalists. His suspension ends on January 15.

While $36,400 might seem like a lot of money for an earring, it is not the most expensive piece of fan memorabilia out there. The original "butcher" album cover shot by the Beatles photographer Robert Whitaker and signed by John Lennon reigns supreme as the priciest item a fan can own. It was sold for $11 million.