Italian judge orders Maradona, lawyer to stand trial

Rome: Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona and his lawyer Angelo Pisano will go on trial in Italy next year for slandering the Equitalia tax collection agency, a judge has ruled.

Judge Chiara Giammarco ordered Maradona and Pisano on Wednesday to stand trial in Rome on July 16, 2016, accepting a request from prosecutors, reports AKI. 

Maradona is accused of defaming Equitalia by repeatedly claiming in media interviews the agency had "persecuted" him, had cited "false documents" and used "heavy-handed" methods against him. 

Equitalia in October 2013 notified Maradona it was beginning procedures to freeze his assets in Italy to pay off a tax debt of 39 million euros. 

The tax bill dates back to the time he played for Napoli from 1984 to 1991, when he helped the club win its two Serie A titles.