Guo Jiaxuan, a talented young Chinese footballer, has tragically passed away after sustaining a severe head injury during a training match in Spain. The 18-year-old, who played for Beijing Guoan’s U-19 team, died on Wednesday evening, just one day before his 19th birthday.
The incident occurred last month during a training match between the Beijing men’s U-20 team and Spanish side RC Alcobendas in Madrid. Guo fell into a coma following the accident and was later declared “brain dead” by a local hospital. He was subsequently transferred to Beijing Tiantan Hospital for further care, where he remained until his passing.
Guo Jiaxuan was a rising star in Chinese football. In 2023, he was selected for China’s U-17 national team and had previously participated in the FC Bayern World Squad project, an initiative run by Germany’s renowned Bayern Munich club. His untimely death has sent shockwaves through the football community.
In a heartfelt social media post, Beijing Guoan expressed their grief, stating, “We’ve lost a child who loves football. May Jiaxuan rest in peace!” The club also pledged to provide all necessary support to Guo’s family and handle the aftermath with care.
Guo’s family, however, has raised concerns about the handling of the incident. They have accused the Beijing Football Association (FA) of withholding critical information, including video footage of the match, details about Guo’s medical treatment prior to hospitalization, and information regarding his insurance coverage.
On social media, Guo’s brother shared a black-and-white photo of the young defender, captioning it, “He’ll forever be frozen on the last day of his 18th year.” Earlier, he had expressed the family’s struggle to come to terms with Guo’s condition, stating that there had been “no improvement” and that they were “gradually accepting reality.”
In response to the family’s demands, the Beijing FA released a statement on Thursday, explaining that they had refrained from continuous disclosures to avoid interference with medical efforts and to respect the family’s emotions. The FA confirmed that they had now obtained video footage of the match and organized experts to analyze it.
“We have made every effort to coordinate medical resources for treatment and meet the needs of his family as much as possible,” the statement read.
The circumstances leading to Guo’s injury remain unclear, and his family continues to seek transparency and justice. “We just want the truth and justice,” Guo’s brother wrote earlier this week.
As the football community mourns the loss of a young talent, questions linger about the safety protocols and communication processes in place during such incidents. Guo Jiaxuan’s legacy as a passionate and promising player will undoubtedly be remembered, even as his tragic death sparks calls for greater accountability in the sport.
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