Napoli’s Maradona tribute blocked by UEFA, details cancelled | OneFootball

Napoli wanted to pay tribute to Diego Armando Maradona on the anniversary of his passing, which coincided with the Champions League match against Qarabag.

Napoli, the club pays tribute to Maradona: UEFA blocks the initiative, details of the canceled tribute

A special date for the city and its fans, which the Neapolitan club intended to celebrate with a unique gesture before kick-off.

According to what was reported by Gianluca Di Marzio on Sky Sport 24, Napoli had planned to turn the tribute into an unforgettable moment: “The club wants to honor Diego by securing a victory in front of their fans. Coach Antonio Conte reiterated in the press conference that the goal is to win also for Maradona, making the evening special in every way.”

Napoli’s initial plans

The original project envisaged children entering the pitch wearing Maradona’s jersey, accompanied by colorful balloons that would be released into the sky, creating a highly emotional moment for those present at the stadium and for those watching the match on TV.

UEFA’s decision

However, UEFA denied authorization for the initiative, citing strict regulatory protocols that prohibit unscheduled demonstrations before official matches. Due to this ban, Napoli had to revise their plans, limiting themselves to projecting a commemorative video before kick-off.

A tribute nonetheless special

Despite the change of plans, the club’s intent remains clear: to celebrate the legend of Maradona and unite the team and fans in a shared moment of remembrance, highlighting how the Argentine’s legacy is still alive in the heart of the city and the Diego Armando Maradona stadium.

This episode demonstrates how, in modern football, great emotional displays often clash with strict regulations, but despite everything, the passion of the fans and tributes to legends like Maradona always manage to emerge, even through small symbolic gestures.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.