Tragedy Strikes Young Footballer Guo Jiaxuan
Family Alleges Cover-Up in Training Accident Death
The family of Chinese footballer Guo Jiaxuan, who tragically died following a training ground accident, has accused authorities of concealing video footage related to the incident.
Guo Jiaxuan, an 18-year-old former youth player for Bayern Munich, passed away on Thursday. He succumbed to severe head injuries sustained from a knee strike to the face during a training camp in Spain the previous month.
Despite doctors recommending the cessation of life support and an autopsy, Guo’s family initially sought to repatriate him to China for further medical intervention. However, he remained unresponsive to treatment and died in Beijing shortly before his 19th birthday.
Family Voices Grievances and Demands Transparency
Following his untimely death, Guo’s brother, Guo Jiayi, publicly criticized football authorities and their handling of the situation. He previously raised concerns about Beijing Guoan, Guo’s club, and the Beijing Football Association (BFA), organizers of the training camp, for allegedly failing to cover medical expenses and questioned the adequacy of insurance coverage.
Jiayi informed the South China Morning Post of repeated, unanswered requests for video footage of the accident from the BFA. He further stated that representatives from the BFA and Beijing Guoan were absent after an initial visit following Guo’s transfer from Madrid, but were quick to arrive after his death.
In a social media post, Jiayi recounted, “[On Wednesday], the Tiantan Hospital Neurosurgery Centre informed us that Jiaxuan was in a critical condition and [they] were unable to provide further treatment.”
Guo Jiaxuan, a former Bayern Munich World Squad participant, died following an accident in February.
Guo’s brother shared an image on social media of the teenager in a Spanish medical facility.
Jiayi further detailed receiving a phone call from hospital staff indicating Guo’s low blood pressure. Subsequently, a distressed call from his mother at 8 pm informed him of Guo’s death. By the time he reached the hospital, Guo’s body had already been moved to the morgue.
Rising Star Cut Short
Guo had a history of representing China at the under-17 national level and had trained with Bayern Munich in 2023.
He was selected for Bayern Munich’s World Squad, an international initiative by the renowned German club focused on nurturing promising global talent.
The unfortunate incident occurred during a training match against Spanish team RC Alcobendas. Guo suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a type of stroke resulting from brain bleeding, due to an accidental collision. Doctors in Madrid subsequently declared him brain dead.
Football Associations Express Condolences
The BFA conveyed their “deep sadness” in a public statement after Guo’s death, recognizing him as an “exceptional player.”
The BFA statement claimed, “We have exerted every effort to coordinate medical resources for treatment and accommodate the family’s needs to the fullest extent possible. Following communication with the Spanish side, we have acquired the training match video, officially certified the complete sequence, and engaged experts for analysis.”
Bayern Munich also issued a tribute to Guo upon confirmation of his death. The club expressed their condolences to his family and friends.
The 18-year-old was participating in a training match against Spanish side RC Alcobendas when the fatal injury occurred.
The family initially resisted the medical advice to discontinue life support and conduct an autopsy, opting instead to seek treatment in China.
“FC Bayern mourns the loss of Guo Jiaxuan, a former World Squad player who has passed away at the young age of 18 in his home country of China,” Bayern Munich’s official statement read. “He succumbed to the consequences of a critical head injury from a tragic accident during a training match in Spain on February 6th. The club’s thoughts are with his family and friends.”
The statement further highlighted, “The centre-back was a member of the FC Bayern World Squad in 2023, a program designed to provide talented players worldwide with an opportunity to showcase their abilities in professional football. Jiaxuan also represented China’s national youth teams.”
Insurance and Medical Costs in Dispute
This week, Jiayi reiterated his assertion that the medical insurance procured by the club would not adequately cover his brother’s medical care expenses.
According to a South China Morning Post report from last month, the BFA had not furnished evidence of insurance coverage and had delayed releasing information concerning ‘the immediate response process within the team after the incident, as well as the subsequent hospital transfer process’.