Funeral Home Worker Who Photographed Maradona's Body Apologises

The owners of the funeral home said the images had "absolutely devastated" them.

The funeral home worker who posed next to the open coffin of Argentine footballer Diego Maradona has apologised to fans. This was reported by BBC.

Claudio Fernandez posed for a photo after Maradona's death together with his son, who showed a raised thumb. Later, it became known that he was not the only one to take such a photo: another employee followed his example and made the same gesture.

These images caused a wave of outrage online. The footballer's lawyer vowed to "take action against the scoundrel" who took these photos.

Fernandez apologised for his actions and for his son's gesture. He said the decision to take the photo was "something spontaneous".

"My son, like all children, simply raised his thumb and took a photo. I know that many people took it badly, they were outraged," said Fernandez, who is standing in the photo with Maradona's coffin behind him. He also said that he has been threatened with murder and that he and his son were promised their "heads would be broken".

The Sepelios Piñeyro funeral home said that the three men who took the scandalous photos were freelance staff who had helped carry the coffin. Salon manager Matías Picón said he was simply "devastated" after seeing the images.

"My father is 75 years old, and he is crying, I am crying, my brother too, we are simply destroyed," lamented Matías Picón.

Sepelios Piñeyro had organised funerals for other members of Maradona's family, and the family of the legendary footballer fully trusted the bureau. But now the owners are very worried and upset about this incident.

Diego Maradona died on Wednesday, November 25, of a heart attack. The legendary footballer was 60 years old. Thousands of people came to his funeral in Buenos Aires, and it was not without crush and clashes with police.

In Argentina, Maradona is considered not just a player but a national icon. The country's residents are convinced that through his play the former striker made Argentina famous around the world.