Maradona speaks on mistakes and redemption

Diego Maradona said, 'I made mistakes, and I paid for them. But the ball is still pure.'

He drew a line between personal flaws and football, arguing one could be flawed without dragging the other down.

Maradona delivered the line during his testimonial match at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires in November 2001.

He stated that football should never be blamed for anyone's mistakes, only the person making them.

Maradona's words acknowledge his errors and consequences while insisting that football itself remains untouched.