Medical staff to face trial over Diego Maradona death

Published 09:00 23 Jun 2022 BST

Simon Lloyd

Medical staff to face trial over Diego Maradona death

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If found guilty, the eight medical personnel could face up to 25 years in prison

A judge in Argentina has ordered that eight medical personnel stand trial over accusations of criminal negligence in the death of legendary footballer Diego Maradona. Maradona died in Buenos Aires in November 2020 after suffering a heart attack. He was 60 and had been at home recuperating from surgery he had undergone earlier in the month on a brain blood clot. Prosecutors launched an investigation into the medical staff involved in his care days after he had died, with a panel of experts later finding they had acted in an "inappropriate, deficient and reckless manner".

Maradona's daughters filed complaint to trigger legal proceedings

Those ordered to stand trial include Leopoldo Luque, who was Maradona's neurosurgeon and personal doctor, along with a psychiatrist and psychologist, two doctors, two nurses and their boss. All eight deny responsibility for his death. "As soon as I saw the cause, I said it was homicide," said Mario Baudry, a lawyer for one of Maradona's sons. "I fought for a long time and here we are, with this stage completed." The legal proceedings began after two of Maradona's daughters filed a complaint over their father's treatment after the surgery on his brain. No date is set for the trial yet, but if found guilty the medical staff could face a prison sentence of up to 25 years.

Maradona shirt recently sold for millions

Maradona is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers to have lived and is idolised in his homeland for inspiring Argentina to World Cup glory in Mexico in 1986, famously knocking out England on their way to the final. The shirt he wore that day, when he beat Peter Shilton with the 'Hand of God' goal, recently sold at auction for over £7m.