Diego Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020. The football legend's death created national mourning in Argentina, and tens of thousands of people queued to say goodbye to him at the presidential palace Casa Rosada.
The 60-year-old was under medical care after a brain operation for a blood clot when he suddenly suffered a heart attack. He was found dead in a villa in Dique Luján outside Buenos Aires, where he was being cared for after being discharged from the hospital two weeks earlier.
But Maradona's life could have been saved, according to his family. And they claim to have evidence for it.
Order not to intervene
The trial against the seven doctors accused of negligence begins on Tuesday. If found guilty, they risk between eight and 25 years in prison. All of them deny any wrongdoing.
The trial is expected to last four months and over 100 people will testify.
One of the key figures is the nurse who was responsible for Maradona during a night shortly before he was found dead. According to him, several "warning signs" appeared before he died, but he was "ordered not to wake the 60-year-old".
"Would lose their salary"
Moreover, Maradona's family claims to have received leaked recordings and SMS messages showing that Maradona's health was in direct and immediate danger, but the doctors' strategy was to do everything they could to prevent Maradona's daughters from intervening.
The reason?
"If it happened, they (the medical team) would lose their salary", they allegedly wrote.
In 2021, just months after Maradona's death, a panel of 20 medical experts concluded that the football icon had a better chance of survival if he had received proper care at a hospital.
Born: Lanús, Argentina on October 30, 1960.
Died: Dique Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina on November 25, 2020.
Clubs: Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell's Old Boys.
International appearances/goals: 91/34.
Achievements: World Championship gold 1986, World Championship silver 1990, Italian league champion 1987 and 1990. Uefa Cup winner 1989.
Awards: Voted Footballer of the Century in 2000 by Fifa with 53.6% of the votes. Pelé came second with 18.6%.
