Maradona’s Death Trial for Negligence Sparks Outrage and Emotion in Football-Crazed Argentina

This week, Argentina will embark on a trial concerning the medical team of the late football legend Diego Maradona, facing allegations of homicide through negligence. This case has stirred strong emotions in a nation where the World Cup hero is still venerated almost like a deity.

The proceedings, slated to span several months, commence on Tuesday—over four years since Maradona passed away from heart failure at the age of 60, shortly following brain surgery in November 2020. The medical team involved has largely denied the accusations.

A court in San Isidro, located on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, is set to hear nearly 120 witness testimonies. The defendants face charges of “simple homicide with eventual intent” related to the care provided to the former Boca Juniors and Napoli star.

Maradona’s death sent shockwaves through the South American country that held him in such high regard, igniting a period of national mourning and ensuing controversies over accountability following his prolonged struggles with addiction and health issues.

Referred to as ‘D10S’—a clever nod to the Spanish term for god—and ‘Pelusa’ due to his distinctive hair, Maradona battled both alcohol and drug dependency yet was celebrated for his flawed genius, which guided Argentina to its 1986 World Cup triumph.

This legacy intensified the frustration surrounding his passing, particularly after a medical board tasked with examining the circumstances concluded in early 2021 that the football icon’s medical team had acted in an “inappropriate, deficient and reckless manner.”

“I hope justice prevails because they killed him. Diego should still be alive,” said Argentine merchant Luis Alberto Suarez to Reuters in Buenos Aires. “They failed to take care of him.”

A medical board that looked into Maradona’s death reported in early 2021 that the medical team’s conduct had indeed been “inappropriate, deficient and reckless.”

However, not all voices echo this sentiment.

“I can only comment based on what I see from the outside. It’s difficult to determine if they were wrong or not,” remarked self-employed individual Martin Milei.

“In hindsight, it’s easy to say that they made significant errors. Yet I believe there are more individuals accountable than are currently being discussed.”

Unemployed Argentine Pablo Knopfler expressed his hope that the trial will bring the truth to light.

“I wish for a trial that clarifies what transpired with Diego,” he stated. “Maybe there’s someone looking down on us, or perhaps even Diego himself, who wants to illuminate what happened to him so that the truth can come out.”