The retrial of medical professionals who treated Argentine football legend Diego Maradona is set to begin Tuesday in Buenos Aires, nearly a year after the original proceedings collapsed due to a controversy involving a judge assigned to the case.
Seven members of Maradona’s medical team will return to court to face charges of homicide with possible intent in connection with the football icon’s death in 2020. The defendants deny the allegations and could face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years if convicted.
Maradona died at the age of 60 from heart failure and pulmonary edema while recovering at home after undergoing brain surgery in the Argentine capital. His death shocked the global football community and triggered a wide-ranging investigation into the circumstances surrounding his care.
Prosecutors argue that the conditions under which Maradona was treated during his recovery were grossly negligent, accusing the medical team of continuing a course of treatment despite being aware it could endanger his life.
The defense maintains that the former football star died of natural causes, noting that he had long struggled with health complications and addiction to alcohol and cocaine.
The first trial collapsed last year after allegations emerged that a judge involved in the case allowed unauthorized cameras into the courtroom for a documentary project in which she reportedly appeared. The controversy forced the proceedings to restart with a new panel of judges.
The retrial is expected to draw significant attention in Argentina and internationally, as the case revisits the final days of one of football’s most iconic figures.
