Barcelona's LaLiga match against Osasuna was postponed on Saturday following the sudden and unexpected death of the club's first-team doctor, Carles Miñarro García. The decision came just 20 minutes before the scheduled kickoff time at the Olympic Stadium.
Miñarro García, 53, had been with Barcelona since 2017 and had moved up to work with the first team last summer after previously serving with the club's futsal side. His passing sent shockwaves through the club and prompted an immediate response from players and officials.
"Barcelona are deeply saddened to announce the passing of first-team doctor Carles Miñarro García this evening," the club said in an official statement. "For this reason, the match against Osasuna has been postponed and will be rearranged for a later date."
The statement continued, "The Barcelona board of directors and all staff extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time."
According to sources who spoke with ESPN, Barcelona players learned of Dr. Miñarro García's death upon their arrival at the Olympic Stadium for the fixture. The team collectively decided to request a postponement of the match, a request that LaLiga promptly approved.
Barcelona players took to social media to express their grief. Midfielder Gavi posted on Instagram, "Always in our hearts, Doc. We will miss you a lot." His teammate Pedri wrote, "I still can't believe it. Sending a huge hug to all of Carles' family and friends."
Defender Ronald Araújo shared his feelings on X, stating: "It's hard to believe. Rest in peace, Doc. Sending strength to Carles' family and friends. May God strengthen your hearts in this difficult time."
Most fans had already taken their seats in the stadium when the decision to postpone the match was made. Initially, there was confusion as players did not emerge for their pre-match warm-up. Twenty minutes before the scheduled kickoff, an announcement was made that the game had been suspended, first in Spanish and then in English. A brief statement explaining the situation was displayed on the stadium's big screen, after which spectators respectfully exited the venue.
The rescheduled date for the fixture has yet to be confirmed. The postponement comes at a critical time in the LaLiga season, with Barcelona currently leading the table, one point ahead of Atlético Madrid and three points clear of rivals Real Madrid.
