Maradona's World Cup 'Golden Ball' seized

The French judiciary on Wednesday prohibited the sale of the 1986 World Cup 'Golden Ball' won by Diego Maradona and ordered its seizure until the dispute over what happened to the trophy is resolved.

Paris-based auction house Aguttes was due to auction the prize on 6th June, in what could have been a record sale for a sporting object, but backed out on Sunday, announcing a ‘sine die’ suspension.

In its decision, the Versailles Court of Appeal upheld the claim by Maradona's heirs, who allege that the prize, which reappeared in 2016 after nearly three decades lost, had been stolen from a bank safe in Naples in 1989.

"We are satisfied with this decision which responds to our demands and reassures my clients. Within the set period of three months, we will present the relevant allegations" to resolve the dispute, Gilles Moreu, the lawyer for Maradona's five heirs (Diego Armando Maradona Sinagra, Dalma and Gianinna Maradona, Jana Maradona and Diego Fernando Maradona), told “EFE”.

However, Moreu said he expects "a long legal battle" until it is decided who owns the trophy, as there are two proceedings, one criminal and one civil.

Until the appeal filed by the Maradona family, Abdelhamid B. was considered the legal owner of the trophy in France, because he bought it in good faith - he did not know it was the 'Golden Ball' - and because three years passed after his purchase without anyone from the Maradona family claiming it.

Abdelhamid B. had bought the trophy for 1.20 euros at a second-tier auction in Paris and could have sold it at Aguttes for more than 10 million euros, according to the auction house's own estimates.

The seizure of the Ballon d'Or, a rare move, is in response to the Maradona family's fear that it could disappear again.

The prize, in the possession of the auction house Aguttes, will pass into the hands of a bailiff who will requisition it until the dispute over the ownership of the award is resolved.