Chinese Youth Footballer Dies After Head Injury in Spain

 

A promising Chinese youth footballer, Guo Jiaxuan, has tragically passed away following a severe head injury sustained during training in Spain, his club confirmed on Thursday.

Guo, a defender for the U-19 team of Beijing Guoan, suffered the injury last month during a training match between the Beijing men’s U-20 team and Spanish club RC Alcobendas in Madrid. Following the accident, he fell into a coma and was declared brain dead by a local hospital before being transferred to China for further care at Beijing Tiantan Hospital.

In a statement posted on social media, Beijing Guoan expressed their deep sorrow:
"We’ve lost a child who loved football. May Jiaxuan rest in peace!"
The club also assured that they would continue to offer full support to Guo’s family and assist with the aftermath of the tragic incident.

Guo's passing occurred on Wednesday evening, just one day before his nineteenth birthday. He had previously represented China's U-17 national team in 2023 and participated in the prestigious FC Bayern World Squad project, organized by Germany’s top football club, FC Bayern Munich.

His brother, in a heartfelt social media post, shared a black-and-white photo of Guo with the caption:
"He’ll forever be frozen on the last day of his 18th year."
Earlier posts from the family indicated that Guo’s condition had shown no signs of improvement, and they were “gradually accepting reality.”

However, the circumstances surrounding the accident remain unclear. Guo’s family has accused the Beijing Football Association (FA) of withholding critical information about the incident and failing to maintain communication with them. They have demanded access to video footage of the match, details of Guo’s medical treatment prior to hospital admission, and clarification regarding his insurance coverage.

On Tuesday, Guo’s brother publicly stated that the family seeks only "truth and justice" regarding the incident.

In response, the Beijing FA released a statement on Thursday, explaining that it had initially withheld continuous updates to avoid external interference with medical efforts and out of sensitivity toward the family’s emotions. The association added that it has since obtained footage of the match and has engaged experts to analyze it.

"We have made every effort to coordinate medical resources for his treatment and to meet the family’s needs to the greatest extent possible," the FA stated.