Eight people set to stand trial over death of footballing icon Diego Maradona

Eight people are reportedly set to stand trial for the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona.

The former Barcelona and Napoli star died in November 2020 following a long battle with ill health. He passed away at his Buenos Aires home while recovering from surgery for a blood clot. The news of his death triggered an outpouring of emotion from around the footballing landscape and beyond with Argentine President Alberto Fernandez declaring three days of national mourning in the country - signifying his importance to the nation.

Whilst the heartfelt tributes continued to pour in, the circumstances behind Maradona's death have had the spotlight shone upon them, with a number of individuals now set to be called to trial. According to AP News, the trial over his death is anticipated to begin in late 2023 with as many as eight medical professionals set to stand.

As per the report, the prosecutors are pushing for the individuals to be found guilty of negligent homicide. They claim that Maradona's death was the direct result of "omissions" by those trusted with his care, reports from The 42 indicating that the health officials are accused of leaving the Argentine superstar "to his fate".

Among those accused include Maradona's doctor Leopoldo Luque, his psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychologist Carlos Diaz and medical coordinator Nancy Forlini with the four now under formal investigation. It is suggested that they knew the peril that the 60-year-old was in at the time but did nothing to intervene.

Further detail is revealed by the prosecutors who claim that the medical team placed Maradona in a "situation of helplessness", whilst they "were the protagonists of an unprecedented, totally deficient and reckless hospitalization at home". It is claimed that action led to a "series of improvisations, management failures and shortcomings".

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Should they be convicted then they could be handed a prison sentence of between eight and 25 years under Argentinian law.

Luque - also facing a charge of employing a 'doctored document' over claims he used a forged Diego Maradona signature in an attempt to obtain medical records - denies any wrongdoing.

A nurse treating the Argentine called an ambulance shortly before his death but he could not be saved, according to reports in Buenos Aires.

Maradona had long suffered with health problems both during and after his playing career. After retiring in 1997 with Boca Juniors, he pursued a career in management - the majority of his appointments coming in South America and the United Arab Emirates. He also had a two-year spell in charge of the Argentinian national team.

Maradona was most recently in charge of Argentine side Gimnasia de La Plata before his death in November 2020. His infamous 'Hand of God' shirt was recently put up for auction and fetched over £7million.