Diego Maradona
Published : May 10, 2003 00:00 IST
The Naples City Council approved renaming the local soccer stadium after Diego Maradona (Pic. AP), the Argentine great who helped Napoli win two Italian league titles in the 1980s.
The proposal by a left wing councilor received a narrow majority of votes and will need government approval before being enforced. An Italian law, dating back to Fascist period, prohibits the naming of public places after any person who has not been dead for at least 10 years. The local Curia criticised the city council's decision as the stadium is currently named after St. Paul. Maradona, one of the greatest soccer stars, still is very popular in Naples and said in recent interviews he would like to rejoin the southern Italian club as manager.
Napoli is currently struggling in the bottom places of the Serie 'B' and risks relegation to the third division.