Diego Maradona's doctor investigated for 'possible negligence' in Argentina legend's death

Search ordered of Dr Leopoldo Luque's home and surgery in Buenos Aires

Maradona's 'hand of God' goal against England and Peter Shilton in 1986. Bongarts

Football legend Diego Maradona poses alongside the Fujairah FC logo designed by Ms Al Kendi Fujairah Football Club. Courtesy Fujairah Football Club

Fujairah manager Diego Maradona talks to his Fujairah squad during a training session in November 2017. The National

Diego Maradona holds up the World Cup after Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 in the 1986 World Cup final at the Atzeca Stadium, in Mexico City. Shutterstock

3 Apr 1996: Soccer star Diego Maradona juggles a soccer ball in the ring at the end of a charity boxing match against Falucho Lacier, former WBA Flyweight world champion at the General Paz Junior's Club in Cordoba, Argentina. Getty

Former Argentinian soccer player Diego Armando Maradona, during a game at the Juan Carmelo Zerilo stadium, in La Plata, Argentina, 09 February 2020. EPA

Argentinean soccer legend Diego Maradona shows his skills after the Ajax vs Boca Juniors soccer match during the Amsterdam four-team soccer tournament in the Arena stadium in Amsterdam on Sunday, 31 July 2005. EPA

Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona cheers his team Boca Juniors after winning the Copa Sudamericana soccer final against Mexico's Pumas Unam at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Sunday, 18 December 2005 EPA

Diego Maradona of Argentina is confronted by a posse of Belgium defenders during 1982 Wold Cup in Spain. Allsport

Maradona, head coach of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, gestures before a match in November, 2019. Getty

Argentina coach Diego Maradona plays with school kids at the Kgotlelelang primary school on January 19, 2010 in Shoshanguwe, Pretoria. AFP

Maradona washing his hair after a match in 1980. Allsport

Maradona resting with his feet up at home in 1980. Allsport

1986 World Cup winner Diego Maradona. Bongarts

Gimnasia coach Maradona in February, 2020. Getty

Maradona smokes a cigar as he watches the World Cup match between Argentina and Iceland at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow in 2018. AFP

Diego Maradona celebrates Argentina's goal against Italy in the 1990 World Cup semi-final. Action Images

Mexican second division club Dorados's coach Maradona in 2018. AFP

Cuban President Fidel Castro with Maradona during the recording of Maradona's TV programme "The 10's Night" in Havana, 26 October 2005. AFP

Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona, in April 1978. Getty

Maradona answers questions during a press conference in Buenos Aires in 2005. AFP

Argentina's 1994 World Cup captain Diego Maradona after Argentina a goal against Greece. AFP

Diego Maradona with Marwan Bin Bayat, chairman of Dubai club Al Wasl, in 2011. AFP

Diego Maradona, head coach of Argentina, at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Getty

Diego Maradona of Seville in action during January 1993. Allsport

Maradona poses with his wife Claudia and two daughters Giannina and Dalma at his 35th birthday in Buenos Aires. AFP

Maradona juggles a ball surrounded by his wife of Claudia, daughters Dalma and Giannina, Serbian producer Maja Kusturica, Dunja Kusturica and Serbian director Emir Kusturica as he arrives to attend the screening of the documentary film 'Maradona by Kusturica' at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival on May 20, 2008. AFP

Maradona is greeted by schoolchildren during his visit to Kgotlelelang School at Winterveldt in South Africa in January, 2010. Getty

Maradona poses in front of his statue at the Boca Juniors Museum in, Buenos Aires in 2006. AFP

Maradona balances a soccer ball on his head as he walks off the training ground after a session with Argentina in 1986. AFP

Maradona shows his support for Argentina prior to the 2018 World Cup match against Nigeria. Getty

Argentina striker Lionel Messi celebrates with coach Diego Maradona at the 2010 World Cup. AFP

Maradona receives the keys of the Colombian city Cartagena from mayor Alberto Barbosa in 2005. AFP

Maradona signs autographs in Havana, Cuba, in February 2000. AFP

Argentina's 1994 World Cup captain Diego Maradona after Argentina a goal against Greece. AFP

Maradona dances with Italian Angela Panico during the TV show "Ballando con le stelle" in Rome in October 2005. AFP

Argentina coach Maradona during a press conference in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires in 2009. AFP

Pope Francis meets Maradona in Rome in 2014. Getty

President of Gimnasia y Esgrima Gabriel Pellegrino and Diego Maradona during his presentation as new coach in September, 2019. Reuters

Maradona sitting in a bedroom with his daughters in Italy in 1989. Getty

German great Karl Heinz Rummenigge with Maradona. Kicker

Argentina captain Maradona celebrates on the shoulders of teammates after they had beaten Russia 3-1 to win the 1979 World Youth Championships in Tokyo. Getty

Maradona holds a Aurora shirt during the inauguration of the Club Aurora football School in Bolivia in March, 2004. AFP

Maradona with United Al Wasel officials following a press conference in Dubai in June, 2011. AFP

Maradona, coach of Al Wasl, with his mother Dalma in 2011. AFP

Maradona is overcome with emotion during an event in his honour at the "La Bombonera" stadium of Boca Juniors in 2001. AFP

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez jokes with Maradona during the "People's Summit" rally in 2005. AFP

Maradona celebrates his 51st birthday with Al Wasl in 2011. AFP

Al Wasl coach Maradona with his son in law, Manchester City's Sergio Aguero (C), and his grandson Benjamin in 2012. AFP

Maradona poses on stage ahead of the 2018 World Cup draw at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow in 2018. AFP

Napoli' supporters wave a flag bearing a portrait of Maradona during a Serie A match in 2013. AFP

Maradona hands the honorary "Ballon d'Or" award to his wife Claudia, as former soccer great Alfredo Di Stefano looks on. AFP

Maradona juggles a ball in the ring at the end of a charity boxing match against Falucho Lacier, former WBA flyweight world champion, at the General Paz Junior's Club in Cordoba, Argentina, in 1996. Allsport

A young Maradona (centre) with his family on a beach in 1970. Allsport

Maradona playing for Barcelona in 1982. AFP

A relaxed young Maradona (l) has a drink. PA

Raffaele Di Fusco, Massimo Crippa, Maradona, Francesco Romano and Giuliano Giuliani of Napoli celebrate with the trophy after the UEFA Cup Final against Stuttgart in 1989. Getty

Maradona plays against his compatriot Juan Martin Del Potro in Dubai in 2013. AFP

Argentina's coach Maradona embraces his father Diego at the end of a training session in Buenos Aires in 2009. AFP

Gimnasia coach Maradona on the balcony of Government House after a meeting with President of Argentina Alberto Fernandez in 2019 in Buenos Aires. Getty

Maradona greets supporters in front of a hotel in Athens in January 2004. AFP

Maradona wipes the lens of a television camera during a celebration for his wife's birthday at a hotel in Havana in January, 2000. AFP

Maradona controls the ball as he poses during a photocall for Serbian director Emir Kusturica's film 'Maradona by Kusturica' at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival in 2008. AFP

Maradona backstage with Queen on The Game Tour in Buenos Aires, 1982. Wikimedia Commons

Maradona being carried by fans after winning the 1981 championship with Boca Juniors in 1981. AFP

Diego Maradona turns 60 on October 30, 2020. Action Images

Maradona at the 1994 World Cup in the USA. Action Images

Diego Maradona's personal doctor is being investigated for possible negligence in the Argentina legend's death last week.

Justice officials ordered the search of properties of Dr Leopoldo Luque on Sunday, a local prosecutor's office said.

The search order was requested by prosecutors in the affluent Buenos Aires suburb San Isidro and signed by a local judge.

Investigators are trying to establish if there was negligence in the treatment of the retired footballer, one of the greatest players of all time.

"Yesterday [Saturday] the investigation and substantiation of evidence continued with the taking of statements from people including direct relatives of the deceased," the prosecutor's office said.

"By virtue of the evidence that was collected, it was considered necessary to request searches at the home and office of doctor Leopoldo Luque."

About 60 police officers took part in the raids at both properties.

Local TV stations showed Dr Luque at his home while the search on the outskirts of Buenos Aires took place.

Maradona, 60, died of a heart attack at his home in Tigre last Wednesday, where he was recovering from brain surgery.

Prosecutors allege that Maradona was not given the appropriate discharge to leave the clinic, and have concerns over his follow-up care.

Argentinian media are reporting Dr Luque could be questioned as an "imputado", someone who is under official investigation on suspicion of possible malpractice or negligence, rather than a simple witness.

It could lead to a charge of wrongful death if he were found guilty.

The doctor in charge of administering Maradona's medication, as well as at least one other person inside the house at the time of death, could also be charged.

Dr Luque's home and surgery were being searched for documents that could determine whether there were any "irregularities" during Maradona's treatment at home, La Nacion newspaper quoted a judicial source as saying.

The searches come a day after Maradona's daughters, Dalma and Giannina, questioned whether the medication their father was receiving was appropriate.

Matias Morla, Maradona's lawyer, has called for a probe into the emergency response to the 1986 World Cup winner's death.

"The ambulance took more than half an hour to arrive, which was a criminal idiocy," Mr Matias said on Thursday in a Twitter post.

It emerged over the weekend that the first ambulance took 11 minutes to reach the residence in a gated community just outside Buenos Aires.

Dr Luque was not at the rented home Maradona was using when he died.

A recording of the call Dr Luque made to the emergency services, stating Maradona had suffered a suspected cardiac arrest, has been leaked to Argentinian media.

Although he had battled health problems, including obesity and drug addiction throughout his life, news of the former Barcelona and Napoli player's death shocked the footballing world and led to an outpouring of tributes from the likes of Pele and Lionel Messi.

Maradona, who represented Argentina at four World Cups and coached the Albiceleste at the 2010 finals in South Africa, had undergone surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain at the Olivos clinic in Buenos Aires on November 3 and was discharged eight days later.

He did not speak to the crowd of media and chanting fans gathered outside in masks as he left the clinic by ambulance shortly after Dr Luque announced he could go home.

Dr Luque had earlier published on Instagram a photo of himself hugging the 60-year-old, who had a bandage on his head.

The football legend was laid to rest after a ceremony attended by family and close friends at the Bella Vista cemetery outside Buenos Aires on Thursday.

Clashes broke out as thousands turned out to pay their respects to one of the world's greatest football stars.