Diego Maradona's medical team have been charged with homicide in relation to the soccer legend's death.
Diego Maradona
The sportsman died of heart failure in November aged 60, two weeks after undergoing brain surgery, but now seven people have been booked on charges of "simple homicide with eventual intent," according to ESPN.
Police in Argentina raided the house and private clinic of Dr. Leopoldo Lugue, the surgeon who carried out the brain operation on Maradona, and he is one of those to be facing criminal charges, along with the footballer's psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, two nurses, and other medical professionals.
If convicted, they each face up to 25 years in prison.
Maradona's family had suspicions surrounding his death, which led to a special investigation, and according to reports, prosecutors believe there is evidence he received insufficient medical care following his surgery.
The case will go in front of a judge on 31 May.
The legendary footballer passed away on 25 November from heart failure which caused a pulmonary edema, but it was also revealed that he was suffering from major heart, liver and kidney problems at the time of his passing. Whilst no alcohol or illegal drugs were found in his system, a post-mortem examination revealed Maradona was on prescription drugs including Quetiapine, Venlafaxine and Levetiracetam.
Maradona was known as one of the greatest football players of all time, and achieved sporting greatness when he captained Argentina to victory at the 1986 World Cup. Argentina’s World Cup win was preceded by a 2-1 quarter-final victory over England, where Maradona scored one of the most talked about goals of all time, in the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal. His club level successes with Napoli were so great that the club even retired his number 10 shirt in 2000, in honour of the legendary goal scorer.
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