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Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mistrial declared in Argentina court over the death of Diego Maradona
The homicide case against Diego Maradona's medical team has been declared a mistrial, lawyers for the defendants said, in a case that transfixed Argentina following the football great and national hero's 2020 death. The date for the new trial was not initially announced on Thursday and new judges were not yet nominated. The decision came after one of three judges in the case, Judge Julieta Makintach, resigned on Tuesday in the face of allegations of an ethical breach. Maradona, who almost single-handedly led the Argentine team to World Cup victory in 1986 in Mexico, died from heart failure while he was recovering from surgery for a haematoma that formed between his skull and brain. He was 60. His death shook the nation, and he was mourned across the world, acutely in Italy's Naples, where he had elevated the southern city's scorned team Napoli in the mid- to late 1980s to huge success with domestic and European glory. Lauded as one of the greatest and most iconic players to ever grace a football pitch, Maradona struggled with drug addiction for many years and with connections the Naples underworld in his time there. His performance in the 1986 World Cup tournament has since become sporting legend. He dubbed his controversial first goal in a quarterfinal the 'Hand of God', since it led to an Argentinian victory over England – a rival with whom the country only four years previously had fought a war over the Falklands Islands, known as the Islas Malvinas in Spanish. But Maradona's second goal in that match, which saw him shimmy past several England opponents from his own half to score the decisive second, was sublime. In 2000, the football governing body Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) named Maradona one of its two 'Players of the Century', alongside Brazil's Pele. Seven members of his medical team were charged with negligent homicide in a trial that began on March 11. The defendants have denied the charges of 'simple homicide with eventual intent' in Maradona's treatment. They were facing prison sentences of between eight and 25 years. Video had surfaced of the judge, Makintach, that showed her apparently being interviewed by a camera crew as part of a documentary in the corridors of the Buenos Aires courthouse and in her office, which breached judicial rules.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sepp Blatter, ex-FIFA boss, and Michel Platini cleared for 2nd time in corruption case
March 25 (UPI) -- Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and a colleague were acquitted Tuesday for a second time on nearly 15 year old allegations of fraud at the European football's governing body. Blatter, then-president of the Zurich-based Federation Internationale de Football Association, and former French footballer star Michel Platini were cleared of corruption charges stemming out of a $2 million payment in 2011 that Swiss prosecutors claimed Blatter made illegally as a bribe to ensure Blatter's re-election as FIFA's president. "Finally, the court has dispensed justice and for me, my family and my friends," Blatter, now 89, told reporters Tuesday after the verdict in Muttenz, near Basel in Switzerland. "This is a big thing." "I'm full of emotion right now," he added. In July 2022, a Swiss court originally cleared the two men. But Swiss federal prosecutors appealed the decision which lead to a new trial. "Today, my honor has returned and I am very happy," Platini, now 69, said Tuesday, adding that his "persecution" was "now totally over." Blatter and Platini were both accused of defrauding FIFA, the global soccer authority, in the case. Prosecutors said Blatter made the 2011 payment using FIFA money. Platini, at the time, was sitting as head of the Union of European Football Associations. The two men, however, contend the payment covered services for FIFA rendered by Platini years prior. The scandal forced Blatter to resign after his re-election and dashed what hope Platini had of succeeding Blatter as FIFA's chief. Meanwhile, Platini's lawyer indicated they are planning legal action against the prosecution and those responsible for the criminal proceedings. "The criminal proceedings have had not only legal but also massive personal and professional consequences for Michel Platini, although no incriminating evidence was ever presented," the French citizen's lawyer Dominic Nellen said in a statement, saying how the Swiss office of attorney general has "not managed to find a single piece of incriminating evidence for over 10 years" and that the trials "were not justified and should never have been conducted." Nellen stated that Platini must "finally be left in peace in criminal matters." "After two acquittals, even the office of the attorney general of Switzerland must realize that these criminal proceedings have definitively failed," Nellen said Tuesday.
Al-Ahram Weekly
17-02-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
FIFA delegation visits Grand Egyptian Museum ahead of Club World Cup - Egyptian Football
A Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) delegation visited the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), carrying with them the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup trophy, in preparation for the July FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. Al Ahly Sports Club, one of Egypt's most celebrated football clubs, will participate in this global sporting event. During the visit, the FIFA delegation expressed eagerness to explore the GEM, one of Egypt's most iconic archaeological and historical landmarks. The museum is renowned for its exceptional collection of ancient treasures and unique tourism experiences. They captured memorable photos with the FIFA Club World Cup trophy in front of the King Ramses II statue in the museum's grand atrium. This symbolic moment underscored the connection between sports, culture, and history. Members of the delegation expressed their admiration for the museum's architectural design and the rich cultural experience it offers. They also praised the grandeur of ancient Egyptian civilization showcased in the museum, describing their tour as a highlight of their time in Egypt. Moreover, they emphasized the significance of Egypt as a top-tier global destination for tourism and history. "Our visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum added a unique and enriching dimension to the journey," the delegation said. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
