Barcelona vs Osasuna CANCELLED minutes before kickoff after Carles Minarro Garcia death
Barcelona’s clash with Osasuna was postponed just 20 minutes before kickoff on Saturday night following the death of a member of the Catalan giants’ medical staff.
The fixture was cancelled after the tragic death of team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia.
A club statement read: “FC Barcelona is deeply saddened to announce the passing of first team doctor Carles Minarri Garcia this evening. For this reason, the match between FC Barcelona and Osasuna has been postponed to a later date.
“The FC Barcelona Board of Director and all staff extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Osasuna posted the following message on social media: “Osasuna wishes to convey its deepest condolences to the family of Dr. Carles Miñarro Garcia and would like to send a warm hug to all the staff of FC Barcelona, as well as to its fans, at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.”
Osasuna president Luís Sabalza added: “We cannot find fault with the suspension of the match, life is the most important thing. You cannot play a match knowing that a member of the team has died.”
According to reports in Spain, Minarro Garcia died at the team hotel, suddenly, in the lead up to the match. He had been working at the club for seven years and this season joined the first-team staff, chosen by Hansi Flick as a replacement for Dr Xavier Valle, who had worked in the club’s medical services for the past 20 years.
Dr Minarro – 40 and a father of two – had also previously worked with the club’s futsal team.
It’s understood the players didn’t know the full extent of the situation until arriving at the ground, when club president Joan Laporta spoke to them in the dressing room. A decision was then made that the game would not go ahead.
Sabalza added: “We have conveyed our thoughts and decision to the referee of the match, Mateo Busquets Ferrer, and there has been no problem. We have immediately met with representatives of the League and the Federation.”
Supporters had already begun filling the stadium at Montjuïc when it was announced over the tannoy and on big screens that the game had been postponed.
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