Italy police arrest Maradona in airport for 2006 transit accident

Diego Maradona was stopped by airport police Sunday after arriving on a flight from Italy, taken before a judge and told he faced a civil case involving injuries in a transit accident, local reports said.

Photo: Italy police arrest Maradona in airport for 2006 transit accident

Airport police said they stopped Maradona and that he was taken by police car to a court and advised of a pending civil case involving a Feb. 10, 2006, accident, according to the official government news agency Telam.

The report said Maradona was sought after failing to heed earlier court summons to testify about events involving a four-wheel drive vehicle that reportedly struck a telephone booth, leaving a married couple with minor injuries.

Reports at the time said it was unclear whether Maradona was driving the vehicle.

The report said Maradona was allowed to go immediately to his home after he was formally advised of the civil case Sunday. Details of the case were not made public.

Maradona, who captained Argentina to the 1986 World Cup, has had severe health problems in recent years requiring a series of hospitalizations.