Maradona's ex-girlfriend denies stealing jewellery from Argentine legend

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona's former girlfriend has denied that she stole jewellery belonging to the football legend, as she fights extradition to Dubai to answer the charges.

22-year-old Rocio Oliva appeared in a court in Buenos Aires to hear the charges against her after being arrested late on Wednesday at Ezeiza airport.

According to Sport24, Maradona has claimed that Oliva stole hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of watches, diamond earrings and other jewellery from him in Dubai, where the Argentine works as a sports promoter and has a mansion on Palm Jumeira, a palm tree-shaped artificial island.

Oliva, who has denied the charges, told the court on Thursday tha she never stole anything, her lawyer Jose Vera said.

Vera said that Oliva, who is a footballer herself, remains in custody but plans to apply for bail while the court sorts out procedural questions around her case.

Vera said that now Dubai has to send an extradition request, adding that there is no criminal law treaty between the United Arab Emirates and Argentina.

Meanwhile, Maradona's lawyer Matias Morla said that his client would drop the charges if Oliva returned his property.

Oliva, who was arrested after the UAE issued a warrant for her, has accused Maradona of hitting her, the report added.