Fan dies in the stands
LaLiga game canceled after death
December 10, 2023, 8:11 p.m
A tragic incident occurs during the game between the Spanish surprise team FC Granada and Athletic Bilbao: a fan of the home team dies in the stands and the game is abandoned.
The Spanish league game between FC Granada and Athletic Bilbao was canceled after the death of a fan in the stands. Granada confirmed the fan’s death via X, but the club did not provide any information about the cause of death. Media reported that the approximately 70-year-old man had suffered a cardiac arrest and that even the quick help from the paramedics could not save him. At the time of the break after 18 minutes it was 1-0 for Bilbao.
Unai Simon, Athletic’s national goalkeeper, had alerted the referee team to a commotion in the stands, and the doctors from both teams rushed to the stands, where emergency doctors were already on duty. “Minutes before there were two more incidents in the stadium, we had two ambulances on duty,” reported Granada manager Alfredo Garcia Amado. Despite the quick intervention of the medics, the fan could not be revived. After the two clubs learned of his death, they agreed to cancel the game after a break of around an hour. The fans in the stadium thanked Simón for his gesture with a standing ovation.
“The entire Granada family would like to express their sincere condolences to the family and friends (of the deceased, editor),” wrote Granada on X. LaLiga also expressed its condolences there. The deceased was a “Granada season ticket holder,” said manager Alfredo Garcia – and thanked Athletic, its medical service and president Jon Uriarte for their behavior. “It’s a gentlemanly club,” he said. They are in contact with the league to schedule the continuation of the game, “but we don’t know, that’s what worries us the least at the moment. Nothing is ruled out, but it doesn’t look like it is will be played tomorrow”.