In pictures: Tears, chaos as people's hero Diego Maradona is laid to rest

Argentina's Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner touches the casket of football legend Diego Maradona at the presidential palace Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires on Thursday. Maradona was buried on Thursday in a private ceremony attended by only two dozen people - a stark contrast to earlier in the day when tens of thousands of weeping fans filed past his coffin for hours in an observance that mixed head-of-state-like honours with the chaos of a rowdy stadium.

The hearse is seen parked outside the Casa Rosada government house during the wake of Diego Armando Maradona in Buenos Aires. Only family members and close friends were permitted at Jardin Bella Vista cemetery for the final religious ceremony and burial of Maradona next to the graves of his parents, Dalma and Diego.

Fans climb on the fence of the Casa Rosada presidential palace as thousands gathered to mourn the death of Maradona. Fans, some draped in the national flag, sang soccer anthems as they formed a line that stretched more than 20 blocks from the Plaza de Mayo, where Argentines gathered to celebrate the Maradona-led triumph in the 1986 World Cup.

People mourn the death of the legend as they waited patiently in front of the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires during the last journey.

'Diego is not dead, Diego lives in the people,' people chanted as the coffin was taken to a cemetery outside Buenos Aires. The motorcade, accompanied by police, was followed on a local highway by dozens of honking cars and motorcycles. Hundreds of fans blocked entry to the cemetery before the arrival of Maradona's casket, dancing and chanting as police moved in to open a way. The crowd continued making noise after the final ceremony began.

Riot police had to get into action to stop thousands of fans from taking a last look at their hero. The crowd overwhelmed organisers and the violence resulted in injuries and arrests, which led Maradona's family to end the public visitation.

An aerial view of the burial as only a small group of people, comprising of Maradona's family and friends, could be present there due to the COVID-19 safety protocols.

The Europa League matches played on Thursday witnessed scenes like this across all matches. Players observe a minutes' silence for Maradona prior to the Group H match between Sparta Prague and Celtic in Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday.