Nottingham Forest legend Steve Hodge has reportedly received a last-minute appeal from the Argentinian FA not to sell the shirt worn by Diego Maradona in the infamous 1986 World Cup meeting between Argentina and England.
Former Forest midfielder Hodge swapped shirts with the legendary Maradona after the 1986 World Cup quarter-final clash between England and Argentina in Mexico, and has owned it ever since, although the item has spent the last 20 years on loan at the National Football Museum in Manchester. Maradona – one of the greatest footballers of all time, who died in November 2020 at the age of 60 – famously scored two unforgettable goals in the match, including one assisted by the "Hand of God", as England were knocked out of the tournament.
Hodge has let the shirt go under the hammer in a specialist auction, with a bid already placed at £4 million; but the Forest hero is said to have been asked to undergo a dramatic U-turn ahead of the auction closing later today, with the Argentinian FA begging for the shirt to be looked after rather than be sold.
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest greats pay tribute to Diego Maradona after death of Argentina legend
According to The Sun, an Argentine delegation have travelled to England to discuss the shirt with Hodge amid hope of taking it back to the Maradona museum in Buenos Aires.
One member of the group - formed of people from the Argentinian FA, Maradona's family, and a private memorabilia firm - said: "He is selling something that belongs to Maradona and the AFA without authorisation. It should be in Argentina in order all Argentines can enjoy it — and not for a millionaire to display it in his closet."
For the past 20 years, the match-worn has been on loan to England's National Football Museum in Manchester.
Revealing why he is selling the iconic shirt, he said: "I have been the proud owner of this item for over 35 years, since Diego and I swapped shirts in the tunnel after the famed match. It was an absolute privilege to have played against one of the greatest and most magnificent football players of all time.
"It has also been a pleasure to share it with the public over the last 20 years at the National Football Museum, where it has been on display. The Hand of God shirt has deep cultural meaning to the football world, the people of Argentina, and the people of England and I'm certain that the new owner will have immense pride in owning the world's most iconic football shirt."
