Flowers and candles are placed to mourn the death of football legend Diego Maradona at the Argentine embassy in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 27, 2020. Argentine football icon Diego Maradona died at the age of 60 on Nov. 25 of a heart attack. (Photo: Xinhua)
The trial concerning the death of football icon Diego Maradona commenced on Tuesday in Argentine, with seven members of his private medical team facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Maradona's family insists that his death was not accidental.
Maradona passed away at his residence in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina on November 25, 2020, aged 60.
An autopsy report released by Argentine police and prosecutors concluded that Maradona died of heart failure, classifying it as a natural death. However, his relatives believe that his personal doctors should be held accountable.
Maradona's private physician, Leopoldo Luque, neurologist Agustina Cosachov and five other medical professionals are accused of negligence in his treatment and now face involuntary manslaughter charges, which carry potential prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years, according to Xinhua.
The medical committee appointed by Argentina's Ministry of Justice concluded that in the 12 hours prior to Maradona's death, he was in severe distress but did not receive adequate or effective medical treatment.
Maradona's son, Diego Armando Maradona Sinagra, said on social media that his father did not die of natural causes.
"His death could have been avoided," he said. "Especially after revealing what his last conversation with Maradona was. I spoke with him through a video call the day after and I saw him well."
Prosecutors have accused Maradona's medical team of deliberately pushing for home care, which has been described as "reckless" and "severely inadequate." They argued that the football legend was left to suffer for an extended period before his death, without receiving necessary medical intervention, according to Asia News Network.
Speaking about Maradona's death, Fernando Burlando, lawyer for Dalma and Gianinna, described Maradona's medical team as "diabolical."
Mario Baudry, the lawyer representing Maradona's youngest son, Dieguito, said that the medical team attempted to prevent Maradona's daughters from intervening. He claimed that communications between the staff indicated financial motives, as the medical team feared losing money if the family took over Maradona's care.
"Maradona visited China multiple times, and his skills and charisma have deeply inspired us," Zhang Ruitian, a Chinese Maradona fan in Beijing, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
"As for the cause of Maradona's death, we hope the truth will come to light soon," he said. "Regardless of what happened, he will always be the legendary figure who dominated the field in our hearts."
The role of the healthcare system in sports has also attracted significant social attention.
"Elite athletes are prone to injuries due to intense training and competition, especially in the later stages of their careers, making comprehensive and detailed medical care even more crucial," Luo Chaofan with the National Health Commission of China, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Luo pointed out that many athletes' health issues are often overlooked, and they can easily become a "forgotten" group.
"Before cases like Maradona's, the sports community should reassess the responsibility of medical teams and consider whether athletes can be more proactive in seeking help for their health management," he noted.
