Maradona 'doing well' in hospital

Fans have been holding a vigil outside the hospital

Argentine former football star Diego Maradona is recovering well after being taken to hospital suffering the effects of alcohol abuse, doctors say.

Maradona, who was admitted to the Buenos Aires clinic on Wednesday, remained sedated, its director said.

Treatment and detoxification was likely to take several days, he added.

Maradona, who led the Argentine team to victory in the 1986 World Cup and is revered in his country, has battled cocaine addiction and obesity.

"He is progressing well," said Hector Pezzella, head of the private Guemes clinic in the Argentine capital, where Maradona was taken by ambulance earlier in the week.

"The most important thing is that he gets through this period of excessive alcohol consumption."

Maradona, who had reportedly been admitted against his wishes, was "obeying doctors" and had not been aggressive, Dr Pezzella said.

The star's personal physician, Dr Alfredo Cahe, said excessive drinking, eating and smoking were to blame for his patient's latest health crisis.

Maradona is still idolised in Argentina and his fans have been watching and waiting for any news.

Stomach stapling

Maradona led Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986, and won league titles at home and in Italy.

Maradona has suffered from health problems in the past

But in 1991 he was banned for 15 months after failing a drugs test and tested positive again for banned drugs at the 1994 World Cup in the US.

He retired from competitive sport in 1997. In 2004, he spent 10 days in intensive care with high blood pressure, breathing problems and a lung infection.

Two years ago, he had a stomach stapling operation. He lost 30kg (66lb), began playing football again and appeared to be getting his life back on track.

But the Argentine media reported at the weekend that Maradona had put on weight and was considering taking a slimming cure in Switzerland.

Earlier this month, Argentina's central bank said it was investigating him for alleged financial irregularities.