JAKARTA - Paula Dapena, a Spanish women's football third division footballer who plays for the Viajes InterRias FF club, admits she has received death threats because she doesn't want to pay tribute to the late Argentine legend Diego Maradona.
In the run-up to Saturday's friendly against Deportivo La Coruna, everyone except Dapena circled the center of the pitch for a minute's silence in memory of Maradona.
Maradona (60) died November 25 after suffering a heart attack. Dapena sat cross-legged while facing backwards in protest.
"It was not only me who was harassed on social media but also my team mates," Dapena said on the ESPN website as reported by Antara, Tuesday.
"We also received death threats and messages like 'I'll find your home and address, come to you and break your leg.'"
Maradona died on International Day against Violence against Women.
In 2014 Maradona had appeared in a video containing his statement about the allegation of having committed domestic violence against his wife Oliva.
"I took the phone but swore I had never hit a woman. The incident ended instantly. I picked up the phone but nothing happened," said Maradona at the time.
Dapena, who is also a teacher, said it would be ironic if people ignore Maradona's past.
"It seems that the hypocrite did one minute of silence for the sake of Maradona, who is known to be a hard worker, and did not (for a moment) of silence for the victims of violence against women," he continued.
Dapena admitted that he was surprised that he was only a female footballer who did not want to respect Maradona.
"To do one minute of silence to honor him is against my values," he concluded.
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