The retrial of Diego Maradona’s medical team opened in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, more than a year after the collapse of the original trial due to a judicial scandal. Seven doctors who treated the late Argentine football legend during his final illness now face charges of homicide with possible intent.
Maradona died in 2020 at the age of 60 from heart failure and pulmonary edema while recovering from brain surgery in Buenos Aires. Prosecutors allege that the conditions of his convalescence were “grossly negligent” and accuse the medical team of pursuing a course of action despite knowing it could lead to death. The defence maintains that Maradona, who struggled with alcohol and cocaine addiction, died of natural causes.
The retrial follows the collapse of the first trial last year when a judge allegedly allowed unauthorised cameras into the courtroom for a documentary in which she was appearing. The seven defendants, who all deny the allegations, face between eight and 25 years in prison if convicted.
The case has drawn significant attention both in Argentina and internationally, given Maradona’s status as one of football’s greatest players. The outcome of the retrial is likely to have a lasting impact on medical accountability in high-profile cases and the handling of celebrity patients in Argentina.
