A Rome judge on Wednesday sent Diego Maradona to trial for allegedly defaming Attilio Befera, the former president of Italian tax collection agency Equitalia.
The former Napoli and Argentina soccer great has been indicted for saying in interviews that he was the "victim of persecution based on false documents and irregular procedures" by Equitalia when commenting on a 40-million-euro tax dispute. The dispute regards alleged unpaid taxes on off-the-books earnings in sponsorship and merchandising deals in his late 1980s glory days with Napoli and interest on that income.
Maradona, who played for the Italian club between 1984 and 1991, is revered in Naples for helping the city's soccer team win two Serie A titles and the UEFA Cup.
The former player had a diamond-studded earring and a Rolex watch seized, among other assets, on past visits to Italy.
Befera was also head of Italy's inland revenue agency, from 2008 to 2014.
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