Diego Maradona RIP

Maradona’s constant determination to dribble inevitably means he attracts fouls, but England take this opportunity rather too liberally. Eight minutes in, Maradona chests the ball down, dribbles inside Kenny Sansom and is chopped down with remarkable force by Fenwick — who is absolutely miles away from the ball, and goes in with a scissor-motion that ensures he brings down Maradona as aggressively as possible.

Having just returned from a suspension for collecting two bookings in the group stage, Fenwick has been booked yet again. For 82 minutes, he’s playing against the world’s best dribbler on a yellow card.

For those 82 minutes, the yellow card should have proved irrelevant. Not because Fenwick was composed enough to resist confrontations with Maradona, but because he could have been shown a straight red card at least twice afterwards.

Off the ball, though, Maradona had attempted to continue his run in behind Fenwick and been flattened with a blatant elbow.

The second incident came two minutes before the opening goal, and is laced with irony — an Argentina clearance bounces midway between Fenwick and Maradona. The Argentina captain springs up towards the ball, while Fenwick launches himself into the air and leads with his arm. Is he trying to elbow Maradona again? Is he trying to win the ball with his hand?

The real irony is that Fenwick, in trying to cheat, actually loses the header — Maradona gets his head to the ball and knocks it past Fenwick, although he’s unable to get on the end of it because he’s again on the floor holding his head.

Can England complain when, two minutes later, Maradona goes up for an aerial challenge and leads with his arm? Was Maradona inspired by Fenwick’s challenge? Was he initially trying to match England’s aggression and using his elbow for brute force, and then ended up being in a position to handle it in?

On 67 minutes — after both Maradona goals — there’s yet another incident when Fenwick throws his elbow at Maradona. Valdano flicks on a long ball, Maradona and Fenwick are again chasing the second ball, and Fenwick again jumps and throws out an elbow into Maradona’s face. This brings a free kick, although Maradona can’t take it because he’s off the field receiving treatment again for a couple of minutes.

Fenwick isn’t the only offender. There’s a two-footed foul from Beardsley, a strong challenge from Reid after Maradona’s trickery has beaten him, and a trip from Steve Hodge that sends Maradona headlong into a collision with Sansom, which again leaves Argentina’s No 10 holding his head.

Football was refereed differently 34 years ago — watch almost any game from that era and you’ll be shocked by the ferocious tackles and the lack of punishment. But watch the entire 90 minutes here and the physical treatment handed out to Maradona leaves you somewhat less appalled when he cheats Argentina into the lead.

https://theathletic.com/1935032/2020/11/25/reconsidered-michael-cox-diego-maradona-1986-world-cup/