March 08, (THEWILL) – Barcelona’s La Liga fixture against Osasuna was postponed on Saturday following the tragic death of Barcelona team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia.
The announcement came after both teams had completed their pre-match preparations, with lineups announced and players already warming up at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium.
The postponement was communicated to fans via the stadium’s large screens.
According to an official statement from La Liga, their competition committee will establish a new date for the fixture within the coming days, giving both clubs time to handle the situation appropriately.
Barca released a statement confirming the sad news.
The statement read, “FC Barcelona is deeply saddened to announce the passing of first-team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia this evening. For this reason, the match between FC Barcelona and CA Osasuna has been postponed to a later date.”
The Catalan club further added, “The FC Barcelona board of directors and all staff extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.” The news has sent shockwaves through Spanish football, with many clubs expected to pay tribute to the medical professional in upcoming matches.
The postponement marks an unusual occurrence in the La Liga schedule, with matches rarely called off so close to kickoff time.
Football authorities have emphasised that the decision was made out of respect for the late Garcia and to allow the Barcelona team and staff appropriate time to process the loss of their colleague.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
