Maradona death trial hit by medical test mix-up

maradona.. DR

A Swiss health insurer has admitted that kidney test results presented during the trial over Diego Maradona’s death belonged to his father, raising fresh questions about the evidence used in the case.

On 26/08/2026 at 13h00, updated on 26/08/2026 at 13h01

A Swiss health insurance company has admitted that medical test results submitted during the trial over the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona actually belonged to his father, Diego Salustiano Maradona.

Swiss Medical said in a letter seen by AFP that the tests had been mistakenly filed under the name of Diego Armando Maradona, who died in November 2020 at age 60. His father died in 2015, five years earlier.

The error was identified by the defense of one of the seven healthcare professionals facing trial over Maradona’s death. The mix-up led to the suspension of proceedings for a week, with the trial set to resume on August 27.

Maradona died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema at a rented home in Tigre, near Buenos Aires, two weeks after undergoing surgery for a brain clot. His medical team is accused of providing inadequate care in the lead-up to his death, charges they deny.

The disputed kidney tests had played a role in the case, with a nephrologist previously telling the court that Maradona suffered from chronic kidney disease and should have received closer monitoring.

The defense has argued that the error could undermine the credibility of the medical commission that evaluated Maradona’s care. Prosecutors, however, maintain that the mix-up does not invalidate their case.

The trial, which began in April 2026, is expected to continue until at least September. An earlier trial was annulled in 2025 after one of the judges was revealed to have participated in a documentary about the case.

By Hind Braim
On 26/08/2026 at 13h00, updated on 26/08/2026 at 13h01