- wording
- BBC World News
Almost a month after Diego Maradona’s death from cardiopulmonary arrest, legal disputes arise over his paternity and inheritance.
The Argentine judiciary ruled last Wednesday that the body of the football legend “must be preserved” until solve a pending paternity process, thus postponing incineration plans.
The lawsuit was filed by a 25-year-old woman, Magalí Gil, who claims that Maradona could be his father. The court responded by saying that a DNA sample had to be presented from the footballer to solve the case.
Maradona had two daughters conceived in marriage, but after divorce He hasBIA acknowledged the paternity of six other children. Gil is not included.
Paternity lawsuits are one of the many claims that followed the Argentine star’s death, including rights to her inheritance, a long list of properties and lucrative image rights agreements.
unidentified
Gil, adopted, claims that her mother contacted her two years ago to warn her that her father “could be Diego Maradona”.
In a video posted on Instagram, Gil said it was a “universal right” to know whether or not “Diego Maradona was his biological father.”
Who are Maradona’s children?
Paternity claims have been a common problem in Maradona’s intense life.
For years, Maradona has denied other heirs besides Gianinna, 31, and Dalma, 33, both daughters he had with his ex-wife. Claudia Villafañe, whom she divorced in 2003 after almost 20 years of marriage.
Finally, the 1986 World Cup winner recognized six more children.
Maradona recognized Diego Junior, 34, and Jana, 24, in mid-2010 after fighting in court with their mothers.
There was no such paternity dispute for the birth in 2013 of his second son, Diego Fernando, who is seven years old and whose mother is Verónica Ojeda, then partner of the former footballer and who kept a friendship after that.
Then, a surprising event took place in 2019, when lawyer Maradona reported this the footballer had accepted the paternity of three children born in Cuba, where he spent four years in 2000 treating his drug addiction.
In Cuba, an open trial continues for a possible fourth child.
In addition to Gil, 19-year-old Argentine Santiago Lara has also filed lawsuits to find out if Maradona is his father.
However, even though Lara and Gil have confirmed a paternal relationship, it remains unclear how much they can receive as heirs.
After his death on November 25, Maradona was buried in a private cemetery near Buenos Aires.
The Argentine judiciary ruled five days later that the body could not be cremated until the relevant forensic analysis had been completed.
Maradona’s lawyer assures that sufficient DNA samples are available and no exhumation is required, according to Reuters.
The player’s death caused a stir not only in Argentina, but also around the world, hundreds of thousands of fans gathering to pay tribute.
Do not forget that you can receive notifications from BBC Mundo. Download our app and activate them so you don’t miss our best content.