Medical inquest: Maradona's care 'deficient and reckless' before death

Diego Maradona received "deficient and reckless" care prior to dying last year, according to a report that a medical panel appointed to investigate the Argentine football icon's death published.

"The action of the health team in charge of treating DAM (Diego Armando Maradona) was inadequate, deficient, and reckless," the panel notes in the report, according to Reuters.

In March, prosecutors appointed the panel to look into allegations that the medical team responsible for the 60-year-old's care didn't offer adequate treatment. Maradona died of heart failure on Nov. 25, 2020.

The panel concluded that Maradona wasn't "properly monitored" on the day of his death, despite becoming seriously unwell 12 hours before dying.

"He presented unequivocal signs of a prolonged agonizing period, so we conclude that the patient was not properly monitored from 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 25, 2020," the panel found.

Prosecutors in Argentina launched an investigation into possible manslaughter days after Maradona's death.

Authorities raided properties associated with Leopoldo Luque, the personal doctor who treated Maradona after he underwent surgery for a brain blood clot weeks before dying.

Luque, who insists he cared for Maradona to the best of his abilities, hasn't been charged.

The death of Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986, triggered widespread shock and sadness throughout the football universe. He was often compared to Brazilian great Pele, with generations of fans debating which of the South American superstars was the world's best.

Maradona battled addiction and poor health while in the spotlight. He enjoyed successful domestic spells at Barcelona, ​​Napoli, Sevilla, Boca Juniors, and Argentinos Juniors.