BUENOS AIRES - An Argentine lawmaker yesterday suggested erecting a statue to football coach Diego Maradona in the capital Buenos Aires as he sponsored a bill to honour one of the country's most famous sons.

BUENOS AIRES - An Argentine lawmaker yesterday suggested erecting a statue to football coach Diego Maradona in the capital Buenos Aires as he sponsored a bill to honour one of the country's most famous sons.

Maradona, who will turn 50 later this year, has great cachet in his homeland despite Argentina crashing out of the World Cup in the quarterfinals to Germany, who won 4-0.

But lower house member Juan Cabandie, an ally of President Cristina Kirchner, said he would back a bill for a statue because "the Argentine people have shown that, where Maradona is concerned, results are not important".

"Maradona has become an icon of Argentine popular culture. He is a social phenomenon and his popularity goes beyond the sporting arena." Cabandie said a monument would highlight Maradona's strength of character and loyalty to his country's cause. - Sapa-AFP