Barcelona’s highly anticipated La Liga match against Osasuna was suddenly postponed on Saturday following the unexpected death of one of the club’s first-team doctors.
The tragic news shocked the football community, leaving players, staff, and even fans in deep shocking sorrow.
“Barcelona is deeply saddened to announce the passing of our first-team doctor, Carles Minarro Garcia, this afternoon,” the club stated in an official announcement.
Due to this heartbreaking loss, officials decided to postpone the match between Barcelona and Osasuna. The club assured fans that a new date for the fixture would be announced later.
A Community in Mourning
The entire Barcelona family, from the board of directors to staff members, expressed their grief. In a heartfelt message, they conveyed their deepest condolences to Dr. Minarro Garcia’s family and friends.
“We stand with them during this incredibly difficult time,” the club emphasized.
Fans had already started filling the Olympic Stadium, eagerly awaiting the league leaders’ clash against Osasuna.
However, about 20 minutes before the scheduled kickoff at 20:00 GMT, organizers made the difficult decision to call off the match. The sudden announcement left many in disbelief.
Barcelona midfielder Pedri expressed his shock and sorrow in an emotional social media post. “I still can’t believe it. Sending a big hug to the family and friends of Carles,” he wrote on Instagram.
Barcelona President Joan Laporta Speaks Out
Barcelona president Joan Laporta shared more details about the devastating loss. He revealed that Dr. Minarro Garcia, who was just 53 years old, leaves behind a wife and two children.
“This is an incredibly painful moment for everyone at Barcelona. We are heartbroken and in shock because it happened so suddenly,” Laporta admitted. “We immediately reached out to his mother and wife to express our condolences and offer them our full support.”
Laporta stressed the club’s commitment to standing by the doctor’s family during this unimaginably difficult period. “It is our duty to be there for them—his wife, his children, his mother. We will do everything in our power to support them.”
A Dedicated Member of the Barcelona Family
Dr. Minarro Garcia had been an integral part of Barcelona’s medical team since 2017. Over the years, he worked with various teams within the club.
Just a few months ago, he took on a key role with the men’s first team. His sudden passing leaves a significant void in the club’s medical staff and the wider Barcelona community.
Osasuna Offers Support and Condolences
Osasuna, Barcelona’s scheduled opponents for the postponed match, showed great understanding and solidarity during this tragic event.
Their president, Luis Sabalza, made it clear, that his team fully supported the decision to delay the game.
“We completely understand the situation. Life is the most important thing. You can’t expect a team to play a match when they have just lost someone who has been part of their daily lives for so long,” Sabalza told DAZN.
Osasuna also expressed their condolences in a heartfelt message on social media platform X. “Osasuna wishes to send its deepest sympathies to the family of Dr. Carles Minarro Garcia. Our thoughts are with all the staff and fans of Barcelona during this difficult time. May he rest in peace,” the club posted.
Recent La Liga Postponements
This is not the first time a La Liga match has been postponed in recent days. On Monday, Villarreal’s game against Espanyol was also called off due to a heavy rain alert in the region.
While that postponement was weather-related, Barcelona’s match against Osasuna was postponed for a much more tragic reason, leaving the football world mourning the loss of a respected and dedicated medical professional.
