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In what is turning into a relentless quest for justice for one of world football’s most beloved heroes, the ongoing trial of medical staff accused of negligence in Diego Maradona’s death has had its fair share of shocking claims and fiery courtroom exchanges.
Maradona, who passed away aged 60 in 2020, had been recovering at home after brain surgery when he suffered a heart attack. But prosecutors allege his death was far from inevitable — claiming hospital staff abandoned him in his final hours.
Now, eight defendants, including Maradona’s neurosurgeon, psychiatrist, psychologist, and nurses, face potential prison sentences of up to 25 years for “homicide with possible intent.”
Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari called Maradona’s deathbed a “theatre of horror” and vowed to present “solid” evidence of medical neglect. “Today, Diego Armando Maradona, his children, his relatives, those closest to him, and the Argentine people, deserve justice,” he told the court.
Investigators say the medical team knew Maradona’s life was hanging by a thread but still failed to act. In a shocking revelation, the night nurse admitted he spotted “warning signs” but was explicitly told “not to wake” the football legend.
More than 100 witnesses will take the stand during the trial, which is expected to last until July.
Maradona’s passing plunged Argentina into mourning. The man who captained his nation to World Cup glory in 1986 — scoring the iconic “Hand of God” goal — was revered as a football deity. But his personal life was turbulent, marred by a battle with cocaine addiction and a 15-month football ban in 1991.
Still, his death devastated the world of football. Thousands of dejected fans queued for hours to say goodbye as his coffin lay in state at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires.
