Argentine court announces trial in the death of football star Maradona: NPR
Judge Julieta Makintach was in court for the trial of health professionals who died in San Isidro football star Diego Maradona, in the suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in the suburb of Argentina.
Gustavo Garello/AP
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Gustavo Garello/AP
Buenos Aires, Argentina – Argentina court announced Thursday that it was accused of negligence among seven health professionals, the death of football legend Diego Maradona, the latest soap opera brutal twist, a trial of the football world.
The judge ruled that a new trial would be held without specifying when.
The hub follows one of three judges overseeing the trial, surrounding her criticism of participating in the upcoming documentary series “Divine Justice” about the case, which began after Maradona’s death and began to emerge with scandal and foul-game suspicion.
Prosecutors on Tuesday filed a trailer for her documentary, a half-and-half-inch trailer that combined with archival clips from Maradona, made an iconic goal with Makintach’s footage and stringed a sound through Buenes Air curet curethouse’s heels and a screaming voice, and a sound can be made on both heels.
Prosecutors asked the judge to investigate Makintach's allegations that Makintach violated the code of justice and allowed the inside of the court to film her closed-door hearings overseeing the reality TV-style series.
As claims snowballed into a national scandal, Makintach said Tuesday she had “no choice” to quit.
The judge decided to retry the entire case on Thursday, effectively shutting the clock out in all lawsuits since March 11, when the trial began to be reviewed in media review and convened dozens of upset witnesses to prove 21 hearings.
“Judge Makintach did not act fairly. Her actions caused harm to the plaintiff and the defense,” Judge Maximiliano Savarino said in announcing the crime. “The only person responsible is the judge who was dismissed.”
“It was an unpleasant decision,” he added.
In the court, the daughters of two football stars, Gianinna and Dalma Maradona, began to cry.
The decision doubts the trial’s timeline, which is initially expected to last until July. Thursday's ruling said the High Court will select three new judges through the lottery “within a reasonable period.”
The case accused Maradona’s medical team of failed to provide adequate care to the football star in the weeks before her sudden death on November 25, 2020. Maradona died of cardiac arrest at the age of 60, while recovering surgery on the brain of a house rented outside Buenos Aires.
Although the case depends largely on medical technology, biweekly testimony has also become tabloid feed – just like Maradona’s life, which includes prolonged drug and alcohol abuse.
Experts say Maradona was in pain 12 hours before his death, while his sister and daughter burst into tears for leaving him alone when he was supposed to be hospitalized.
The defendants who deny all charges were charged with a crime similar to involuntary homicide because it means the defendants are aware of the risks posed by their reckless behavior and ignore the risks.
These include Leopoldo Luque, the principal physician at the time of Maradona's death, as well as his psychologist, psychiatrist, medical coordinator and nurse.
The crime is sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. The defendant said Maradona was a difficult patient and was not allowed to be treated.
Maradona famously led Argentina to a victory at the 1986 World Cup, and he is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. His rag story resonated with his Argentinians, who was widely respected as a national hero.