Argentina declares three days of mourning

Argentina is grief-stricken over the death of Diego Armando Maradona. The country’s president, Alberto Fernandez, declared three days of official mourning of the passing of the World Cup winner, who died of a heart attack on Wednesday aged 60.

Fernéndez, speaking to Argentinean newspaper Clarín, said in a brief statement that he was “incredibly sad” over the death of Maradona.

“I was working with [Santiago] Cafiero [the head of the cabinet] when they told me. I can’t believe it. I’m distraught. It’s the worst news an Argentina fan could receive. We loved him. I’m trying to talk to his family. We’ll see. There is so much sadness,” said the president.

The presidential decree announcing the official period of mourning will be published in the State’s Official Bulletin, to be followed by tributes all over the country to what many consider to be Argentina’s greatest player of all time.