Tragedy Strikes: Match Halted in the 17th Minute

Spanish football witnessed a tragic moment on Sunday during the Second Division clash between Ceuta and Almería. The game, which stood at 1-1, was suspended at halftime after a supporter suffered a cardiac arrest in the stands behind the goal defended by Guille Vallejo.

Referee Alejandro Morilla stopped play in the 17th minute after being alerted to the medical emergency. Paramedics from the Red Cross, along with on-site doctors, performed CPR for several minutes before the man was carried out of the stadium on a stretcher toward an awaiting ambulance.

Despite their efforts, the fan sadly passed away before arriving at the University Hospital. The Ceuta club announced the news through the stadium’s loudspeakers, and the referee made the decision to permanently suspend the match out of respect for the tragic incident.

Match Tied 1-1 as Tragedy Overshadows the Game

Before the unfortunate event, the game had been competitive. Ceuta opened the scoring just two minutes in, when Kuki Zalazar finished off a cross from Matos that deflected off the post to make it 1-0. The goal forced Almería to push forward, and they equalized in the 36th minute through a long-range free kick from Adrián Embarba, which slipped through the hands of Guille Vallejo and ended up in the net.

Both sides had chances to take the lead before halftime — Chirino fired just wide of the post, and Marcos nearly scored in added time — but the game took a back seat after the tragic medical emergency.

The match will be rescheduled by the Spanish Football Federation. Both Ceuta and Almería expressed their condolences to the family of the deceased supporter, in what turned into a heartbreaking afternoon for Spanish football.