Diego Maradona’s Stolen Ballon d’Or Seized by Justice, Sale Prohibited
The Ballon d’Or France Football Adidas, won in 1986 by Diego Maradona, has been at the center of a legal battle. The Court of Appeal in Versailles has ordered the seizure and prohibition of the sale of the prestigious award. Originally stolen and later found in Paris, the trophy was set to be auctioned off, but the auction has now been canceled.
Diego Maradona’s heirs have emerged victorious in this legal dispute. Despite being dismissed by the Nanterre court on May 30, they have managed to secure the seizure and ban on the sale of the Ballon d’Or France Football Adidas awarded to the Argentine legend in 1986, as per the ruling by the Versailles Court of Appeal on Wednesday. This means that the trophy will remain in the custody of the authorities until the Office Central de Lutte Contre le Trafic des Biens Culturels (OCBC) completes its investigation.
To ease tensions surrounding the case, the specialized auction house Aguttes had announced the indefinite postponement of the auction of the item on Sunday, citing a “litigious atmosphere” and “uncertainties.” These uncertainties stem from doubts raised by Maradona’s heirs regarding the circumstances of Abdelhamid B.’s purchase of the Ballon d’Or in 2016. While Abdelhamid B. claims it was a lucky find in a “hardware lot,” Maradona’s children find this story implausible.
“We are pleased with this decision, which aligns with our requests and reassures my clients,” explains Gilles Moreu, a lawyer from the Paradox law firm representing the heirs. “My clients will now file a claim before the judicial court asserting that if the Ballon d’Or is indeed the one awarded to their father in 1986, it should rightfully belong to them. In our view, Abdelhamid B. cannot be considered a bona fide purchaser given the circumstances of the acquisition as he claims.” The heirs of Diego Maradona have three months to initiate this legal action to reclaim the trophy, ensuring that this saga continues to unfold.
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