It was reported that the football legend died at the age of 60 following a cardiac arrest.

Speaking to FMT, George Joseph, who officiated the match between Argentina and Algeria in the Under-20 World Cup in Tokyo, Japan in 1979, said Maradona’s passing was a sad day for football.

Back then, George said, the Argentinian attacking midfielder was captain of his side but was not yet a household name.

“I didn’t know who he was then, he was captain of the youth team and before the match, we shook hands and he looked at me. Perhaps he was wondering where I was from,” he said.

George recounts how Maradona, who was a stocky player, ran up and down the pitch “like a rubber ball”.

“He was also a gentleman. If he committed a foul, he would say sorry and if another had fallen, he would help him up.”

After the game, George said, Maradona shook his hands and gave him the thumbs-up.

“I think he was happy with how I refereed the match. I remember thinking ‘this is an unbelievable footballer, he will be one player to watch’,” said George, who retired in 1987.

His prediction came true and “El Pibe de Oro” (the Golden Boy) went on to become one of the game’s greatest footballers, winning the World Cup in 1986.

Maradona also achieved success at the club level in Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli.

George met Maradona again in 1982, a year after he had earned a big-money move to Argentinian powerhouse, Boca Juniors.

The team had come to play against Selangor XI led by Malaysian legend Mokhtar Dahari in a friendly, which ended with a victory for Boca Juniors thanks to Maradona’s goal in the 60th minute.

“We met at a press conference and I showed him a photograph of us taken before the kick-off in the U-20 World Cup match. He shook my hands and autographed the picture. I still have it here in my house. He really was a great player, it is a big loss to football,” said George.