Female Footballer Refuses to Observe Maradona Minute of Silence

Football arenas around the world witnessed "minute of silence" pauses to mourn the death of the game's legend Diego Maradona, but a Spanish player decided to stage a protest during her team's friendly match.

The Spanish player Paula Dapena, who plays for Spanish side Viajes Interrias FF decided to sit on the field and faced the opposite direction, while other players observed a minute of silence.

"My teammates looked at me and laughed, because they knew I would not do it," she told Pontevedra Viva.

"A few days ago, on the Day for the Elimination of Gender Violence, these gestures were not made and if a minute of silence was not observed for the victims, I am not willing to do it for an abuser,"

"I said that I refused to observe the minute of silence for a rapist, paedophile and abuser and that I had to sit on the floor and turn my back."

"To be a player you have to first be a person and have values beyond skills like those he had, which we know were spectacular football qualities and talents," she stated.

However, Dapena's team went on to lose 10-0 Deportiva de Abegondo, according to Marca website.