Argentina's judiciary upheld the trial against the medical team that assisted football legend Diego Maradona in the months leading up to his death in November 2020.

A court yesterday rejected the defense's request to acquit the eight defendants, which include Leopoldo Luque, the late star's leading physician.

Also included in the case are a psychiatrist, a psychologist, nurses and coordinators of a private health service.

They are all accused of homicide and could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.

Maradona died of pulmonary and cardiac complications while recovering at home from a head operation.

Luque and his team were assisting him in that home treatment and, according to the prosecution, acted negligently and even "abandoned" him.

A medical board determined that if the former national team captain had received care in a medical centre, his chances of survival would have increased.