Thousands of fans paid their respects to football legend Diego Maradona as he was buried in a private ceremony in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires on Thursday (November 26).

The World Cup winner died of a heart attack on Wednesday (November 25), aged 60, sparking mourning in Argentina and around the world.

Thousands gathered at the Casa Rosada to see Maradona's coffin, draped in the Argentine flag and the player's iconic number 10 shirt.

According to local media, fans queuing outside the Casa Rosa took over a courtyard inside, where they chanted and sang, forcing officials to move Maradona's coffin and family to another room as a security precaution.

Later, the hearse bearing Maradona's coffin rolled through the gates of the presidential palace and into the streets of Buenos Aires.

Fans crowded onto roadsides and highway bridges as the funeral cortege sped towards the western outskirts, surrounded by police outriders with sirens blaring.

SHOTLIST:

1. Various of the fans crowded in the government palace of Argentina
2. Various of fans waiting for the funeral procession of the government palace of Argentina to leave
3. Various of funeral procession from the air
4. Various of fans on the highway saying goodbye to Maradona
5. Various of funeral procession
6. Various of the burial of Maradona's remains in the Bella Vista cemetery, Buenos Aires

STORYLINE:


As darkness fell, the football legend Diego Maradona was laid to rest after a ceremony attended by family and close friends in the leafy surrounds of the Bella Vista cemetery outside Buenos Aires.

One of the greatest footballers of all time, the World Cup winner died on Wednesday aged 60, sparking mourning around the world.

Tens of thousands of people had queued from early morning to file past the star's coffin, draped in the Argentine flag and the player's iconic No.10 shirt, at the Casa Rosada.

But as the day wore on, fans queuing outside the palace grew increasingly impatient, and some took over a courtyard inside, where they chanted and sang, forcing officials to move Maradona's coffin and family to another room as a security precaution.

Despite an earlier announcement extending the lying-in-state by several hours, officials shut the doors, and riot police clashed with stone-throwing fans on streets around the palace, arresting several people.

Later, the hearse bearing Maradona's flag-draped coffin rolled through the gates of the presidency building and into the streets of Buenos Aires.

Fans crowded onto roadsides and highway bridges as the funeral cortege sped towards the western outskirts, surrounded by police outriders with sirens blaring.