A retrial into the death of football icon Diego Maradona has begun, nearly four years after he died aged 60 from heart failure.
Proceedings restarted on Tuesday after the first trial in May 2025 collapsed when one of the judges allegedly allowed unauthorised filming in court for a documentary.
Seven members of Maradona’s medical team stand accused of homicide with possible intent. They deny the allegations and face prison sentences of between eight and 25 years if convicted.
The former Argentina captain had been recovering at his home in Tigre, Buenos Aires province, following successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier that month.
Investigators later classified the case as culpable homicide, similar to involuntary manslaughter, saying the accused were aware of the seriousness of his condition but failed to take necessary action.
A preliminary autopsy confirmed heart failure caused acute pulmonary oedema, a build-up of fluid in the lungs.
A panel of medical experts appointed by prosecutors described the care provided at home as “deficient and reckless”, concluding the footballer “would have had a better chance of survival” in a proper medical facility.
Among those on trial are Maradona’s main medical adviser Leopoldo Luque and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov. Former nurse Dahiana Gisela Madrid will be tried separately.
About 100 witnesses, including Maradona’s daughters, are expected to testify before a new panel of judges at a court in San Isidro. The trial is expected to run until July.
Following his death on 25 November 2020, Argentina’s then-president Alberto Fernandez declared three days of national mourning, saying: “Thank you for having existed, Diego. We’re going to miss you all our lives.”
Maradona began his career with Argentinos Juniors before representing Argentina at four World Cups and scoring 34 international goals, including the infamous Hand of God against England in 1986.
He later struggled with cocaine addiction and received a 15-month ban after testing positive in 1991. He retired in 1997 during his second spell at Boca Juniors.
Maradona went on to coach Argentina’s national team from 2008 until the 2010 World Cup, later managing in the United Arab Emirates and Mexico. At the time of his death, he was in charge of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.
