BUENOS AIRES — Argentine prosecutors have formally requested prison sentences of up to 12 years for the medical team that treated football legend Diego Maradona prior to his death, condemning their care as “chaotic” and severely negligent.

During closing arguments on Thursday, the heaviest penalty—12 years—was requested for Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal physician. Prosecutors sought sentences ranging from four to 10 years for the remaining six defendants, which include a psychiatrist, nurses, and medical coordinators.

The seven health professionals have been on trial since April for their roles in Maradona’s death on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60. They are facing charges of homicide with dolo eventual—a legal classification applied when an individual knows their actions could cause fatal harm but proceeds regardless. A conviction on these charges carries a prison term of eight to 25 years.

“Abandoned to His Fate”

Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari told the court that the medical team’s severe disorganisation left the ailing icon helpless, effectively “abandoning him to his fate.” The prosecution argued that the defendants actively neglected their professional duties and took actions that directly contradicted sound medical practices.

At the heart of the prosecution’s case is the controversial decision to allow Maradona to recover from brain surgery in a rented private home in Tigre, outside Buenos Aires, rather than in a specialised medical facility. Prosecutors highlighted that the home lacked essential life-saving equipment, including a proper hospital bed and a defibrillator, and did not have an ambulance on standby.

Medical experts testified that Maradona’s caregivers failed to act on glaring warning signs in the days leading up to his passing. The football icon suffered from severe fluid retention, a racing heartbeat, and laboured breathing—symptoms that went unaddressed. Assistant prosecutor Cosme Iribarren noted that the fatal outcome was foreseeable long before his final day.

During the proceedings, prosecutors presented graphic photographs of Maradona’s heavily swollen body in bed. His three daughters, who were in attendance, reportedly covered their faces as the images were displayed in court.

Defence Denies Wrongdoing

All seven defendants have vehemently denied the accusations. The defence maintains that Maradona’s death from heart failure and acute pulmonary oedema was a tragic but unforeseeable event, arguing it was the result of natural causes exacerbated by his lifelong struggles with addiction.

Luque, who previously told the court he was innocent and deeply regretted Maradona’s passing, argued that he was not the primary decision-maker regarding the home recovery setup and challenged several findings of the autopsy. However, prosecutors countered his claims by playing WhatsApp voice messages between Luque and Maradona’s private secretary, suggesting the doctor manoeuvred to secure the daughters’ approval for home treatment.

The current trial follows a collapsed proceeding last year, which was derailed after it was revealed that one of the presiding judges had secretly participated in a documentary about the case. Closing statements are expected to continue for another two weeks, with a final verdict to be delivered at a later date.

A Legacy Beyond the Pitch

Beyond his unparalleled achievements on the football pitch, Maradona was celebrated globally for his fierce anti-imperialist political stances. An outspoken critic of US foreign policy, he counted progressive Latin American leaders like Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez, Cuba’s Fidel Castro, and Bolivia’s Evo Morales among his close friends.

He was also a staunch advocate for Palestine. In 2012, he declared himself the “biggest fan” of the Palestinian people, and in 2014, he fiercely condemned the Israeli aggression on Gaza. His solidarity continued throughout his life, famously embracing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2018 and telling him, “My heart is Palestinian.”

Reference: Al-Mayadeen

DEBRECEN — In a resounding victory that extended far beyond the football pitch, the Republic of Ireland defeated the occupying Zionist regime 3-0 in a UEFA fixture on Sunday, turning the sporting event into a powerful platform of solidarity with Gaza and its martyrs.

While the scoreboard read a decisive win for the Irish side, the true triumph was the team’s collective rejection of normalisation with an apartheid state actively committing genocide. The match, held in Debrecen, Hungary, saw the Irish squad take a firm moral stance against the atrocities unfolding in the besieged coastal enclave.

Before kickoff, the Irish players made their position unequivocally clear. They refused the customary pre-match handshakes with the representatives of the Zionist entity—an arrangement accepted by UEFA after the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) informed the Israeli side in advance. Furthermore, as the regime’s anthem played, the Irish squad stood with their heads bowed in solemn mourning for the tens of thousands of Palestinians slaughtered since October 2023, refusing to pay respect to a genocidal state.

Throughout the match, the team wore black armbands. While FAI chief executive David Courell attempted to sanitise the gesture by claiming it was in “recognition of all lives lost,” the players themselves understood the armbands as a symbol of mourning for Gaza’s martyrs and a direct condemnation of the ongoing Zionist war of extermination.

The resistance on the field was matched by individual sacrifices. Irish captain Dara O’Shea announced he would donate his entire match earnings to humanitarian aid for Gaza. Meanwhile, first-choice goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu took the ultimate principled stand by withdrawing from both the Sunday fixture and the upcoming October 4 rematch in Backa Topola, Serbia. Bazunu stated unequivocally that he felt “it would be wrong to participate,” refusing to legitimise a regime that has reduced Gaza to rubble.

The match proceeded despite immense pressure from advocacy groups like Irish Sport for Palestine, which had urged the FAI to completely boycott the fixture. Over 160 Irish athletes signed an open letter demanding the cancellation of the match, reflecting a growing global consensus that sports must not be used to whitewash the crimes of the Zionist occupiers.

While a fragile ceasefire was declared last January, the continued killings and persisting genocidal patterns by the Israeli regime have prompted international observers to remain on high alert. Sunday’s match in Hungary served as a stark reminder that the global boycott movement and the rejection of Zionist normalisation continue to gain momentum, proving that the spirit of resistance transcends borders and playing fields.

Reference: ABNA24

DUBLIN — The intersection of sports and geopolitics has taken centre stage in the Republic of Ireland, where more than 160 athletes have signed an open letter urging the men’s national football team to boycott its upcoming UEFA Nations League qualifiers against Israel.

Spearheaded by the activist group Irish Sport for Palestine, the campaign calls on the squad to “act collectively with conscience” and refuse to participate in the two scheduled fixtures. The matches are slated for September 27 in Hungary and October 4 in Serbia. Following intense backlash from players and supporters regarding the civilian death toll in Gaza, both games will be played behind closed doors in neutral venues.

The mounting pressure on the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) coincides with a media firestorm surrounding Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson. When asked during a recent press conference if the intense political climate would distract his squad, Hallgrímsson offered a blunt response.

“We are not playing with genocide; we are playing against genocide,” Hallgrímsson stated. “We are playing against Israel; we are not playing with Israel.”

Despite the high-profile appeal from the broader Irish sporting community, the FAI has stood firm on its decision to field the team. The governing body acknowledged the “strength of feeling” regarding Palestine but cited the severe sporting repercussions of forfeiting.

In a statement, the FAI noted that the non-fulfilment of UEFA obligations would have a “profound impact” on the overall development of Irish football, effectively ruling out a boycott.

The sporting dispute mirrors a broader deterioration in diplomatic relations. Ireland has emerged as one of Europe’s most vocal critics of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, recently moving to formally intervene in South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In response, Israel shuttered its embassy in Dublin in late 2024, accusing the Irish government of “extreme anti-Israel policies.”

While the athletes’ open letter continues to dominate headlines off the pitch, the Republic of Ireland national team is still expected to fulfil its UEFA obligations and take the field in Hungary later this week.

Reference: Al-Mayadeen

At 39 years old, Lionel Messi has officially announced his retirement from international football, bringing a monumental close to a 21-year career representing Argentina.

The football icon confirmed his decision in a heartfelt message shared on Instagram on Monday, arriving just weeks after he captained the Argentine national team to the final of the 2026 World Cup.

“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul, but I understand that it is the right time,” Messi wrote, acknowledging the emotional weight of stepping away from the squad he has served for over two decades.

Messi’s international legacy reached its absolute zenith during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he finally lifted the global trophy after a dramatic victory against France in Doha. However, his farewell tournament ended in disappointment this past July when Argentina was narrowly defeated 1-0 by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, denying the defending champions a consecutive title.

Reflecting on his lifelong commitment to his country, Messi emphasised that his dedication never wavered, regardless of the accolades.

“I swear I always gave everything, not just in the last few years when we won everything but before that too, and I always fought and gave my all for this shirt,” he stated.

Questions regarding the veteran forward’s future with the national team had been mounting in recent weeks, particularly following the passing of his father, Jorge, in August. In the wake of his father’s death, Messi admitted to harbouring “serious doubts” about his desire to continue playing the sport at the highest levels for much longer.

While his historic run with the Albiceleste has concluded, his club career will carry on. Messi remains under contract with Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami through the end of the 2028 season.

Messi leaves the international stage as one of the most decorated and respected athletes in history, having given his life and soul to the struggle and glory of Argentine football.

Reference: Al-Mayadeen