New Trial Set to Commence in Argentina Following the Death of Football Icon Diego Maradona

Maradona, often hailed as one of the greatest footballers of all time, passed away in November 2020 at the age of 60 while recuperating from brain surgery at a private residence.

He succumbed to heart failure and acute pulmonary oedema—an affliction where fluid builds up in the lungs—just a fortnight after undergoing surgery.

A panel of seven medical professionals faced charges pertaining to the circumstances of his recovery in the northern Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre, which prosecutors described as being marked by significant negligence.

However, just two and a half months into the trial, during which numerous witnesses, including Maradona’s children, provided often emotional testimonies, the proceedings were abruptly halted.

The trial was declared void in May 2025 following revelations that one of the judges overseeing the case was linked to a documentary on the matter, which could have violated ethical standards.

Judge Julieta Makintach was subsequently impeached.

The upcoming trial, which will include testimony from around 120 witnesses, aims to re-evaluate whether Maradona’s medical team was culpable in his death.

Seven health professionals—doctors, psychologists, and nurses—who were responsible for his care during his final days, are accused of homicide with potential intent, having allegedly pursued treatments while aware of the risks involved.

If found guilty, they could face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.

The defence argues that the larger-than-life Maradona, who struggled with cocaine and alcohol dependency, died of natural causes.

“What has been definitively established is that there was no malicious intent to kill Maradona. To assert otherwise is to inflict cruelty upon both his family and the defendants,” stated Vadim Mischanchuk, attorney for psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, during an interview with Radio Con Vos on Sunday.

The news of the demise of the 1986 World Cup champion prompted hundreds of thousands of Argentinians to take to the streets in a collective mourning, even amid the Covid pandemic.

The trial is anticipated to run until July.