The 16th round clash between Granada and Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish football championship was halted following a tragic incident in the stands of the Nuevo Los Cármenes stadium. La Liga’s press service confirmed the postponement after fans were informed of a fatality in the Granada section, bringing play to a premature end as authorities and medical teams responded on site.
During the first half, a man became suddenly unwell and his heart stopped. The match referee promptly moved both teams to the area beneath the stands, where medical personnel arrived to administer aid and arranged for the fan to be transported on a stretcher to the ambulance. Initial signs suggested stabilization, but medical teams later confirmed the death. The pause stretched into an interruption of service as responders continued to work and fans were accommodated away from the pitch while arrangements were made for the continuation or rescheduling of the fixture.
In a statement, the club issued that the game was postponed due to the death of one of its season ticket holders. The message underscored the solemnity of the moment and the club’s condolences extended to the affected family and supporters. The match’s scoreline stood at 1-0 in favor of Bilbao at the time of the postponement, with the lone goal coming early in the sixth minute through Iñaki Williams, the 29-year-old Ghanaian forward, and the assist recorded for Inigo Martinez, the 30-year-old defender. This goal had marked a tight opening phase before the heartbreaking incident dominated the proceedings.
Earlier in the day, another top-tier fixture involving Krasnodar and CSKA Moscow had also concluded without a goal in the first half, a separate note on contrasting evenings in European football. The development at Granada would overshadow any tactical narratives from earlier play, highlighting the sport’s unpredictable blend of triumph and tragedy and the constant need for readiness from players, staff, and medical teams in moments of emergency. [Source: La Liga press office]