Doctors who treated Diego Maradona face 25 years in prison as trial into his death begins

Seven members of the medical team that treated football legend Diego Maradona before his death will go on trial for homicide, starting on Tuesday in Buenos Aires.

They are accused of negligence in the death of the World Cup winner in 2020. 

Maradona suffered a fatal heart attack at home in November that year, just two weeks after he was released from hospital following surgery for a bleed on his brain. 

His family alleged negligence, a cover-up, and derogatory comments from the medical team who oversaw his care – calling it a ‘mafia’.  

Maradona had struggled with drug addiction, obesity and alcoholism for decades, and reportedly came close to death in 2000 and 2004. 

But prosecutors suspect that – were it not for the negligence of his doctors, his death could have been avoided.

Seven of the eight medical professionals who have been charged in the case, including Maradona’s brain surgeon, psychiatrist and nurses, are now standing trial for culpable homicide, a crime which roughly equates to involuntary manslaughter.

They deny wrongdoing but could face up to 25 years in prison.

Dalma Maradona, the legend’s eldest daughter, shared a video containing audio she claims proves serious irregularities in her father’s care. And she revealed that her mother is in fear of the ‘mafia’ who ‘control everything’. 

‘My mother is worried because she is afraid,’ she said on the Angel Responde show on Bondi Live. 

‘Afraid of the mafia, of those who control everything, have money and power. But I don’t care. I know who I am up against, but I cannot remain silent. We need people to know the truth. My mother tells me all the time “shut up, don’t say anything, I’m scared,” but I can’t. I owe it to him.’

Dalma was previously reported to have alleged that a ‘mafia of assassins’ caused her father’s death. She claims there are recordings that exist that prove a lack of medical attention with conversations about cover-ups and professional negligence, Argentine outlet Diario Registrado report.

Maradona won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986, having knocked England out in the quarter-final with the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal and another – later voted ‘Goal of the Century.’