New Footage and Family Concerns Raise Questions for BFA

A Timeline of Events

The Beijing Football Association (BFA) has released new footage and details surrounding the tragic death of young soccer talent Guo Jiaxuan. The 18-year-old sustained a life-threatening head injury during a training match in Madrid on February 6th, 2023.

Video footage shows Guo colliding with the knee of a Spanish player while defending a counterattack. He immediately fell into a coma. On-site first-aid personnel administered treatment five minutes later, according to the BFA. Emergency responders arrived with a helicopter and airlifted Guo to a specialized hospital in Madrid.

After nearly four hours of intensive treatment, Guo was diagnosed as "brain-dead." The BFA claims they did not release the footage earlier to avoid causing unnecessary distress to the family.

Guo's family remains skeptical. They question the non-contiguous nature of the video clips and the BFA's claim of "timely treatment." They have repeatedly requested detailed information and the full-length video, but their requests have been denied.

Following the diagnosis, Guo's family demanded his transfer to Beijing for further treatment. The BFA hired a medical charter flight, and Guo arrived in Beijing on February 14th. He was kept on life support at Tiantan Hospital. Medical experts from both Beijing and Spain consulted and reached the same conclusion.

Guo tragically passed away on March 19th, 2023, just before his 19th birthday. His death was a significant loss for the Beijing soccer community and for China's young talent pool. He had been selected for China's U17 team and included in Bayern Munich's World Squad in 2023.

The BFA has maintained that the handling of the injury was responsible and followed standard procedures. However, the family's concerns and the lack of transparency have raised questions about the BFA's actions. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.