Maradona pleads for 'justice' on Italian trip

"I haven't killed anyone, I've just come to ask for justice," Maradona said at a press conference, saying he had been a "victim" of swindlers.

Diego Maradona balances a ball during a press conference in Naples yesterday. Pic/AFP

World Cup winner Maradona, who helped Napoli to their only Italian championship wins in 1987 and 1990, was convicted of tax evasion in 2005 and ordered to pay 37.2 million euros including 23.5 million euros in interest on late tax payments.

An Italian court in November last year admitted there had been a procedural error in the investigation and ordered a new inquiry.