Three funeral workers, Claudio Fernandez, his son Ismael and Claudio Medina were sacked on Friday, November 27, for taking photos with the open coffin of Diego Maradona on Thursday.
The three funeral workers who were working with Pinier funeral home in Argentina had the rare privilege to attend to the remains of the 60-year-old Argentina football icon who died on Wednesday, November 25, of a heart attack.
So, as a crowd of people was waiting outside the premises of Argentina’s presidential villa to pay Maradona their last respect, Claudio Fernandez and his son stopped doing their jobs as funeral workers and started to pose for photos beside the open coffin of Maradona.
They didn’t stop there, Ismael and Claudio Medina decided to be famous for being part of the last people that saw the remains of Maradona. Hence, they uploaded the pictures on social media which went viral instantly.
Some of Maradona’s fans especially those living around La Paternal, a community where Maradona’s first professional club Argentinos Juniors is based, have been sending death threats to the funeral workers for taking photos of the remains of Maradona, according to Claudio Fernandez.
“They know me”, Claudio said. “I’m from the neighborhood. They say they are going to kill us, break our heads.”
The comments of the people on social media against the action of the three funeral workers forced Pinier’s funeral home to sack the workers before the burial ceremony of Maradona on Friday.
While confirming to Radio 10 that he and his son, Ismael, have been sacked for taking photos with the open coffin of Maradona, Claudio Fernandez said he was not aware that his 18-year-old son who was working with him had any plan to take pictures and share it on social media.
“It was something instantaneous” Claudio insisted. “I’d just raised my head and my son did it like any kid of 18,” he told the radio station.”
In the picture that landed the funeral workers into trouble, Fernandez and his 18-year-old son were seen standing next to the open coffin of Diego Maradona on Thursday. Ismael was smiling and pointing his thumb to the camera while his father looked not ready for the shot. In another picture, Claudio Medina could be seen posing with the open coffin and giving a thumbs up to the camera.
🎥 Tens of thousands line streets for Maradona.
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) November 26, 2020
The streets of Buenos Aires were filled as the football legend's coffin was driven away for burial. pic.twitter.com/6WLVIPWj34
