Fernando Ricksen’s dreams of meeting Diego Maradona dashed after charity footie event snub
Dying Gers legend, 40, bravely took a flight from Spain to the bash in Holland after being personally invited by the World Cup winner
FERNANDO RICKSEN'S dream of meeting idol Diego Maradona was dashed when the Argie star snubbed a charity footie event.
The dying Gers legend, 40, bravely took a flight to the bash after being personally invited by the World Cup winner.
But stricken Ricksen — who can no longer talk due to motor neurone disease — was gutted when Maradona failed to show.
Pal Vincent De Vries said: “Diego was his idol growing up, so he was really looking forward to meeting him — it was a dream.
Diego kept telling organisers he’d be there the next day, then the next, but pulled out at the last minute. It was a big disappointment.”
Event boss Christian Petermann fumed: “I was expecting diva behaviour but this takes the cake.
“The worst thing is for Fernando. This is probably the last time he’ll get the chance to shake Maradona’s hand.”
We told last month how Maradona — whose ‘Hand of God’ goal helped knock England out of the 1986 World Cup — called Ricksen after seeing pictures of the stricken ex-Ibrox midfielder.
He asked if the Dutchman would ref a shootout in his home town to mark the 30th anniversary of the Mexico tourney, won by Maradona’s Argentina.
Ricksen made the gruelling trip from his home in Valencia, Spain to Heerlen, Holland.
After the no-show, he caught up with ex-teammates instead.
Vincent said: “It was nice for him to meet old pals, but it wasn’t what he was expecting.
“Given his health, it was a very long journey to take.”
Maradona later apologised on Facebook for the snub — but made no mention of Ricksen.
He said: “Unfortunately due to problems in the organisation, I had to cancel my presentation.
The legal issue is in the hands of my lawyer.”
We told last month how dad-of-one Ricksen is so ravaged by the muscle-wasting illness he can barely walk or feed himself.