The controversial 'Hand of God' footballing legend Diego Maradona has gone on record to refute allegations of evading almost £35m in Italian taxes, thrown at him by the nation's taxman.

The 90 second video shows the diminutive Argentinean responding to news that his lawyers had failed in their bid to achieve a pardon for the €40m (£34.8m) he is accused of dodging in tax - with €36m of that being interest built up since 1984, when Maradona joined Napoli.

Speaking to an Italian TV channel from Dubai, Maradona said: 'I am not a tax evader and I have never been one. The verdict accuses me of things I never signed for. That's why I say the magistrates need to bring the evidence.'

During his spell at Napoli, the club won its only Italian league titles in its history and referring to the affection the club's supporters have for him, Maradona added: 'I want to go to Italy like a man who has not stolen anything from anyone, let alone the Italians who gave me so much. There can be no finance policeman that can break the love between the Neapolitans and me.'

In 2006, when Maradona was in Italy for a charity match, Italian police stripped two Rolex watches worth £8,700 each off him, to help pay off the outstanding tax bill.

A video of Maradona's tax evasion denial can be seenHERE