Soccer. New report could revive investigation into Diego Maradona’s death

More than three years after his disappearance, there is still uncertainty surrounding Diego Maradona’s death. A new report into the causes of his death may even call into question the criminal case against the eight health professionals accused of having a role in his death.

Catalan media Mundo Deportivo , argues that a forensic expert performed an examination at the request of Leopoldo Luque, the neurosurgeon of Pibe de Oro. The aim of this second opinion was to challenge the medical examination carried out in 2021, which held Luque and other doctors responsible for the former player’s death.

Eight professionals involved

Since the start of the trial, the defendants have denied any irregularity in the treatment followed by Maradona, who died in a stupor aged just 60. Plunged into deep grief, Argentina took weeks to recover from the loss of its national icon.

Suspicions increased the day after the 1986 world champion died, the doctors’ offices and homes were searched by the police.

At the end of this research, prosecutors finally decided to charge the eight professionals with murder, who now face between 8 and 25 years in prison. The trial starts on June 4.

External factors could have caused his death

According to the report by forensic pathologist Pablo Ferrari, published this Monday, Maradona’s high and irregular heart rate may be of natural origin or the result of a so-called factor. “external”. A substance such as cocaine, which the natives of Lanús had already abused in the past, could therefore be the cause.

This new investigation marks a turnaround in the case related to the disappearance of the football legend. “The number varies from a cardiac event lasting several days to an event lasting a few minutes”declares Vadim Mischanchuk, the lawyer of Agustina Cosachov, the former psychiatrist of the deceased.

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Prosecutors prefer to play it down: “There is no twist in this matter. » Criticism has even been expressed against the second opinion which was prepared in 72 hours and is based on “a minimum part of the evidence presented by the defence”.