Officials raid home of Diego Maradona’s doctor, probe death as manslaughter case


By Jorge Fitz-Gibbon
November 29, 2020 

Diego Maradona (right) and Leopoldo LuqueDiego Maradona press office/AFP

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Argentine investigators raided the home of Diego Maradona’s doctor on Sunday as they probe a possible case of involuntary manslaughter in the soccer legend’s death.

The blitz comes after Maradona’s lawyer last week called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the 60-year-old former soccer phenom, who died Wednesday after suffering a heart attack, the Mirror reported Sunday.

Investigators converged on the home of the doctor, Leopoldo Luque, 33, around 8:40 a.m. Sunday and are expected to question him as they probe possible medical negligence in Maradona’s death, the outlet said.

“As Luque was Maradona’s personal physician the decision was taken to search his house and surgery (office) to look for documents that could determine whether, during Maradona’s treatment at home, there were any irregularities,” a law enforcement source told Argentina’s La Nacion.

The soccer star’s lawyer, Matias Moria, raised questions about his death Thursday.

“The ambulance took more than half an hour to arrive, which was criminal idiocy,” he said, according to the Independent Online.

On Saturday, Maradona’s daughters — Dalma, Giannina, and Jana — spoke to investigators and also raised questions about Luque’s potential involvement in their father’s death, the Mirror reported.

Maradona’s family was already incensed after a funeral worker last week released a selfie alongside the icon’s body.

Funeral worker Claudio Fernandez was fired over the incident.

Maradona is considered one of the sport’s all-time greats, scoring 34 goals in 91 international appearances, including four World Cups.