Maradona died of a heart attack at his home in 2020 at the age of 60. He had been recovering from surgery for a brain blood clot earlier that month.
The trial of eight medical professionals accused of negligence in the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has begun in Buenos Aires.
The case, which has been long-awaited, centres on allegations that Maradona’s death could have been prevented, BBC reports.
Maradona died of a heart attack at his home in 2020 at the age of 60. He had been recovering from surgery for a brain blood clot earlier that month.
Prosecutors argue that hospital staff failed to provide adequate medical care, leading to his death.
The defendants, including a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a medical coordinator, a nursing coordinator, a doctor, and a night nurse, claim that Maradona refused further treatment and should have remained in hospital longer after his operation.
If convicted, they face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years for "homicide with possible intent."
Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari told the court, “Today, Diego Armando Maradona, his children, his relatives, those closest to him, and the Argentine people, deserve justice.”
The prosecution stated that they would present "solid" evidence that no member of the medical team "did what they were supposed to do" in what they described as the "horror theatre" surrounding Maradona’s final moments.
Investigators classified the case as culpable homicide, arguing that the accused were aware of the seriousness of his condition but failed to act accordingly.
One of the key witnesses, the night nurse, had previously claimed he noticed "warning signs" but had received orders "not to wake" Maradona. More than 100 witnesses are expected to testify during the trial, which is set to continue until July.
Maradona is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He captained Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup, famously scoring the "Hand of God" goal against England in the quarter-finals.
Despite his footballing brilliance, Maradona struggled with drug addiction, serving a 15-month ban in 1991 after testing positive for cocaine.
Meanwhile, Maradona died on 25 November 2020 at a rented home in Tigre, a suburb of Buenos Aires, where he was recovering from brain surgery.
The 60-year-old football legend suffered a heart attack just weeks after being discharged from the hospital following an operation to remove a blood clot on his brain.
His passing sent shockwaves across Argentina and the footballing world, with three days of national mourning declared in his honour.
However, the circumstances surrounding his death quickly became a subject of intense controversy. An autopsy confirmed that Maradona died of heart failure, but questions arose over the medical care he received in his final days.
A panel of medical experts later concluded that his treatment was “deficient and reckless,” with doctors failing to monitor his condition properly or provide timely intervention. Prosecutors accused his medical team of negligence, alleging that Maradona had been “abandoned to his fate.”
The case also took a legal turn when Maradona’s daughters, Dalma and Giannina, raised concerns about their father’s care, prompting authorities to investigate his personal doctor, Leopoldo Luque, and other medical staff.
Audio recordings leaked to the press revealed discussions between Luque and Maradona’s psychiatrist about his deteriorating condition, with some suggesting a lack of urgency in responding to warning signs.
Further controversy erupted when reports emerged that Maradona’s personal physician had forged his signature on medical documents in the weeks leading up to his death.