Italian authorities on Thursday sold a pair of diamond studded earrings seized from Argentine national football coach Diego Maradona for 25,000 euros (36,250 dollars) to help pay his tax bill.
Italy's financial police seeking to recover any part of the 36 million euros Maradona owes them took the gold earrings when the soccer legend visited a weight-loss clinic in September 2009.
The winning bid at the auction was more than three times the pre-sale estimate of 8,000 euros.
Around 30 people took part in the auction in the northeastern town of Bolzano. The winning bid came from a woman who requested anonymity.
Maradona's debts stem from his days playing for the Italian team of Napoli from 1986-1991.
The 1986 World Cup winner played a key role in Napoli's success but left in disgrace after serving a 15 month ban for cocaine use. He also failed to pay tax on his earnings and in 2005 a court ruled he owed 36 million euros.
An Italian taxpayer's association, www.contribuenti.it, estimates that Maradona's debt has accrued a further 22.4 million euros in interest.
In 2006, tax authorities recouped 11,000 euros when they seized two expensive watches the Argentine was wearing while visiting Naples for a charity match.
Copyright 2010 AFP Global Edition
