Viajes Interrias FF player, Paula Dapena has received death threats for not taking part in a minute’s silence as a tribute for Diego Maradona.
The footballer is undeterred about it as well, saying she’d make the same choice again.
Dapena became a topic of discussion when she refused to join others in paying respect to the football legend who died on Wednesday due to cardiac arrest. While others stood to pay minute silence respect to Maradona, Dapena sat down, faced the other side for the minute’s silence ahead of Viajes Interrias FF vs Deportivo Abanca.
There had been tributes to Maradona from all and sundry over the shocking event last week Wednesday. He was given a national burial on Thursday in Buenos Aires.
This led many clubs to pay tributes to the 1986 World Cup winner, which ranged from minutes silence before kick-off to minutes applause in the 10th minute, as in Serie A.
Why Dapena refuses to pay tribute to Maradona
There were questions on the reason the 24-year-old refused to honour the football legend.
Although Maradona was flawless and has his own controversy, Maradona was honoured throughout the world.
In an interview with Radio Marca, Dapena said she would sit all over again, even though she’d received death threats on social media.
“I would do it again, no doubt. Thursday was the ‘Day for the Elimination of Gender Violence’ and there has been a minute’s silence for an abusive man and not for the victims. Because of my feminist ideals, I couldn’t pay tribute to Maradona,” she told Spanish radio.
Dapena who noted that Maradona was a spectacular footballer, said his lifestyle left much to be desired.
“I think you need values as well as skills. Everyone at my club is with me and I’ve received a lot of support on social media, but I’ve also received some death threats and so have some of my teammates. Social media is like that.”
Meanwhile, Dapena got the support of the Deportivo Abanca coach, Manuel Sanchez. The coach expressed his support for her views and even spoke to Dapena at half-time.
Maradona is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. This made many of the world’s best players – including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – as well as almost every top club to pay tribute to him over the past few days.
Defending her action, Dapena alluded to the fact there was no similar gesture during the International Day for the Eradication of Violence against Women.
“My teammates looked at me and laughed because they knew I would not do it. A few days ago, on the Day for the Elimination of Gender Violence, these gestures were not made and if a minute of silence was not observed for the victims, I am not willing to do it for an abuser,” she added.
She has been getting alot of supportive messages on the social media as well.
