Funeral worker apologizes for “thumbs up” selfie with Diego Maradona’s body

After receiving death threats, the funeral worker who posed for a selfie by the open coffin of Argentinian soccer legend Diego Maradona has begged for forgiveness, the BBC reported Saturday.

Claudio Fernández, who was fired over the incident, said the decision to take the photo was impulsive and he regrets it. Fernandez was snapped with his son, who made a thumbs-up signal, and another man.

Maradona died Wednesday at his home in Tigre, near Buenos Aires.

Several photos showed up online as Maradona’s body lay in state at the presidential palace, causing an uproar. In one photo one of the men appears to be touching the forehead of the late World Cup winner.

Maradona’s lawyer, Matías Morla, said he would sue “the scoundrel” responsible for the photos.

Fernandez told Radio 10 the decision to take the photo was “something instantaneous.”

“My son, like every kid, raised his thumb and they took the photo,” he said. “I know that many people have been offended, they have taken it badly.”

Fernández said he had gotten death threats.

“They say they are going to kill us, break our heads,” he said.

Matías Picón, the manager of the Sepelios Pinier funeral parlor, said Fernández was one of three “outsourced employees.” Picon told the TN news channel the company was “devastated” by the photos.

The company had long worked for the Maradona family.

“The family has total confidence in us, that’s why we are so affected,” he said.

“My father is 75-years-old and he is crying, I am crying, my brother too, we are destroyed.”

via: https://nypost.com/2020/11/28/funeral-worker-apologizes-over-maradona-coffin-selfie/

Photo Credit: nypost.com