The family of Guo Jiaxuan, an 18-year-old Chinese youth footballer declared brain dead following an injury during a match in Spain, has accused the Beijing Football Association (FA) of withholding crucial information about the incident.
Guo, a defender for Beijing Guoan’s U-19 team, fell into a coma on February 6 after a training match between Beijing’s U-20 team and a Spanish side from a Madrid suburb. According to the Beijing FA, medical staff from both teams attended to him immediately, and he was airlifted to a local hospital where he was later declared brain dead.
However, the Beijing FA has not provided specific details about the incident, sparking frustration among Guo’s family. His brother shared a social media post on Wednesday, expressing concerns over the delays in releasing information.
The family has demanded access to video footage of the match, details on the medical treatment Guo received before reaching the hospital, and information about his insurance.
“We just want to know the truth, why is it so hard?” Guo’s brother wrote, sharing screenshots of text exchanges with the Beijing FA where repeated requests for information appear to have been ignored.
Guo was transferred back to China last week for further care, but his brother confirmed that his condition has shown no improvement. “We are gradually accepting reality,” he said.
Guo had a promising career, having been selected for China’s U-17 team in 2023 and included in the FC Bayern World Squad, a talent scouting project run by Germany’s top football club.
