Football as a Religion: The Church of Maradona

For a lot of fans, football is religion. To Hernan and Alejandro Veron, Argentine player Diego Maradona is the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. As founders of the Church of Maradona, Alejandro and Hernan have reinvented the idea of a fan club, creating instead a full-fledged religion around their idol. We pay a visit to their place of worship in the city of Rosario to see how Alejandro and Hernan pay homage to the player responsible for the greatest goal in the history of the sport.
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[@shreder89]

I just wanna say something here: I am argentinian, I live in Rosario (the city where this was filmed) and I am a football fan (soccer for yanks). This people are, to me and 99% of the rest of us Argentinians, a bit crazy. Yes we loooovee football, we in fact have some severe problems regarding our local hooligans wich we call "barra bravas", yes we think Maradone means a lot to our coutnry (wether we like him or not) but most people don´t think this is a good idea or even normal.

[@kazuhirala]

Are they really worshiping Maradona? Dont get me wrong he was one of the greatest, but to start a religion/church takes things a bit too strange.

[@udcw5]

It's ridiculous he is just human as us

[@clansman89]

There's dispute which player is better: Pele or Maradona. Pele is older so only the older population is familiar with his performances while Maradona ended his professional career about 20 years ago so even middle age people remember him. I think they cannot be compared because football evolved through the time and we don't know how would Pele play in Maradonas' time and vice versa.
Today we have Messi. He is likely to be the best of all time if he continues with high performances until the end

[@ShortsFromLife]

Who is here after Maradona's death?

[@420SanJuan]

this is sad

[@hectorbarrios885]

And he's dead

[@lonewolf-vm7zt]

I am from Naples and in Naples Maradona is a God. He came from a faraway place, wanted to be loved, and he promised us social redemption. He promised us wins and the scudetto. And so it was. 2 league titles, Uefa Cup and other national cups. He could have gone away and earned a lot more, but he stayed to win.

[@tadesselakew7705]

He is not jesus

[@TheNewRed2511]

everyone is like wtf while i die laughing

[@FenerMadridARM]

i dont praise maradona. but i surely consider football as my religion, my faith, my escape, and my love. i dont care if i sound batshit insane but its the truth and many others believe so

[@noumanhellany2481]

Any body familiar with the name of the music in the first min of the video??

[@zergo94]

WTF I'm a 22 years old Argentinian and I didn't know this was a thing.

[@krystalnguyen6510]

Crazy people

[@fynnab]

Would love to see more football videos from VICE :)

[@stylishbizzle38]

does anybody know the name of the song they start singing in the church at 1.58 of this video please?

[@abirsen5146]

RIP the God himself :( Remains in our hearts forever

[@JMB-ch8vj]

Bro this is too much 😂

[@hybridmomentom]

Any body know that piece of music when they show clips of the church gatherings?

[@capscaps04]

hardcore football fans. XD