The family of Guo Jiaxuan, an 18-year-old Chinese youth footballer who was declared brain dead after sustaining a serious injury during a training match in Spain, has accused the Beijing Football Association (FA) of withholding crucial details about the incident.

Guo, a promising defender who previously played for Beijing Guoan’s U-19 team and was part of China’s U-17 squad in 2023, fell into a coma on February 6, 2025, after a match between the Beijing men’s U-20 team and a Spanish club from a Madrid suburb.

Family Demands Transparency Over Circumstances of the Injury

The Beijing FA confirmed Guo’s injury in a statement but failed to provide specific details about how the accident occurred. This lack of transparency has led to growing frustration from Guo’s family, particularly his brother, who has accused authorities of delaying and ignoring repeated requests for information.

In a social media post on Wednesday, which was also reported by Chinese state media outlet Xinhua, Guo’s brother expressed deep dissatisfaction with the Beijing FA’s handling of the situation.

Key concerns raised by the family include:

• Lack of video footage of the match that captured the incident.
• Details about the medical response on the field before Guo was transported to the hospital.
• Information on Guo’s insurance coverage and whether all necessary measures were taken for his treatment.

Guo’s brother also shared screenshots of unanswered text messages to Beijing FA officials, showing repeated requests for updates being ignored.

“The family just wants to know the truth. Why is it so hard?” he wrote in frustration.

Beijing FA’s Official Response and Medical Efforts

In its official statement, the Beijing FA maintained that medical personnel from both teams rushed onto the field to provide first aid immediately after Guo’s injury.

The 18-year-old defender was airlifted to a local neurosurgery hospital, where doctors declared him brain dead. Despite the grim prognosis, Guo’s family arranged for him to be transferred back to China for further medical care last week.

However, in his latest update, Guo’s brother revealed that there has been no improvement in his condition.

“We are gradually accepting reality,” he wrote, indicating that hopes of recovery are fading.

Guo’s Football Journey and Rising Career

Guo Jiaxuan was a rising star in Chinese football, with a career that had shown immense promise.

• He played for the U-19 team of Beijing Guoan, a top-tier Chinese club.
• He was selected for China’s U-17 national team in 2023, marking him as one of the country’s brightest young talents.
• He was also previously included in the FC Bayern World Squad, an annual talent discovery program run by German giants Bayern Munich to scout and train young players worldwide.

His tragic injury has sparked a wider discussion in China’s football community about player safety, transparency in handling accidents, and support for injured athletes.

Ongoing Questions and the Need for Accountability

As Guo remains in a coma with no signs of recovery, his family and the public continue to demand:

• Full disclosure of what happened on the field leading up to his injury.
• Medical reports detailing his treatment before reaching the hospital.
• Accountability from the Beijing FA regarding their lack of communication with the family.

With growing pressure, Chinese football authorities may face increased scrutiny over how they handle serious injuries involving their players—both domestically and abroad.

For now, Guo’s family remains in an agonizing wait for answers, hoping for at least the truth, if not a miracle.