Argentinian authorities have seized assets belonging to two of the late soccer legend Diego Maradona’s sisters, his former lawyer, and three others, in connection with allegations of fraudulent management of the footballer’s brand.
The ruling, obtained by AFP, was issued by an appellate court in Buenos Aires on Thursday.
Maradona’s former attorney, Matias Morla, along with two of his assistants, was indicted for allegedly mismanaging the star’s assets. Two of Maradona’s sisters, Rita and Claudia, and a notary were also prosecuted as accomplices. The court ordered the seizure of 2 billion pesos (approximately $1.34 million) from all accused individuals.
Maradona’s children insist that his brand and its subsidiaries should have been transferred to them immediately after his death in 2020, when he was 60. According to the court, Morla’s brand management firm was nothing more than a façade, asserting that Maradona himself maintained control of his assets until his passing. Under these conditions, the ruling stated, the assets “immediately revert to his heirs.”
The legal battle began in 2021 when two of Maradona’s daughters, Dalma and Giannina, filed accusations against Morla and others. His three remaining children later joined the case.
Maradona died while recuperating from brain surgery, succumbing to heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, a condition caused by fluid buildup in the lungs, just two weeks after the operation.
Meanwhile, another case to determine whether medical negligence contributed to his death is still unresolved. That trial was halted in May, after two months of hearings, when the presiding judge recused herself due to links with a secret documentary. A retrial is pending.
What You Should Know
Diego Maradona, one of football’s greatest icons, died in 2020 after complications following brain surgery. His death sparked legal battles over inheritance and alleged mismanagement of his brand.
His children continue to fight for control of his estate, while questions over possible medical negligence remain unresolved.
