Argentina beat England in the quarter final of the Soccer World Cup, by the hand of God and head of Diego Maradona

Maradona did not openly admit scoring the controversial goal with his hand.

But when pressed to explain how he netted the ball in the 51st minute the Argentine captain said: “That goal was scored partly by the hand of God and partly with the head of Maradona.”

Teammate and fellow forward Jorge Valdano also joked about the goal.

He said: “Diego felt so bad about the first goal. That’s why he had to come up with the second.”

Valdano was referring to Maradonna’s superb second goal four minutes later – a brilliant solo run from the halfway line in which he left four defenders floundering before rounding England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to slide the ball home.

Shilton was the first player to complain that Maradona’s opening goal had come off the Argentine’s hand.

The goalkeeper had a close-up view because it was Shilton who lost out to Maradona in a challenge after a miskick by an English defender sent the ball towards the goal.

England manager Bobby Robson said after the match: “Maradona handled the ball into goal, didn’t he?”

A television replay proved that Maradona had done just that.

The second goal scored by Maradona, a religious young man who crosses himself whenever he enters of leaves a football pitch was described by Robson as “miraculous”.

Fans fight in stands

Fighting broke out between between English and Argentine fans in the second half – the first soccer meeting since the 1982 Falklands war – of their World Cup quarter-final at the Aztec Stadium yesterday.

The scuffles erupted after an English spectator carrying a Union Jack walked into a section of the stands behind the Argentine goal. Argentine fans grabbed the flag and ripped it apart.

A few minutes later more English fans challenged the Argentine fans and fist fights broke out.

Six Mexican riot police entered the area separated the fans and ordered them to resume their seats.