The fire scare at the hotel Chelsea were staying at in Manchester was apparently caused by Diego Maradona's cigar!

The Sun reported that firemen believe it was the former Argentine footballer who triggered the fire alarm by smoking a Havana at 7am in the morning.

An entourage that accompanied the Argentina boss were also believed to have been smoking on the 14th-floor rooms.

The alarm caused the Radisson Edwardian hotel staff to evacuate 200 guests from the building.

Many of Chelsea's stars like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole were forced to stand outside in near-freezing temperatures for 40 minutes before being allowed back into their rooms.

Several players like Michael Ballack and Ashley Cole looked tired when they left the hotel for the game.

Maradona was in Manchester to catch a glimpse of his star striker Carlos Tevez in action but was left disappointed when the player was left out of the starting eleven.

The Greater Manchester Fire Service said that the cause of the alarm could not be announced but a fireman at the scene told a reporter.

"It looks as though it was set off by Diego and his entourage smoking cigars on the 14th floor."

Two fire trucks were called upon and swiftly arrived at the 263-room hotel with ten firefighters in tow.

One guest even said: "I saw most of Chelsea outside shivering.

"It wasn't the best preparation for a vital game."

Chelsea went on to lose the game by a huge 3-0 margin which left their title challenge in tatters.