Sevilla vs Getafe Puerta incident

Full name Antonio José Puerta Pérez
Date of birth November 26, 1984(1984-11-26)
Place of birth Sevilla, Spain
Date of death August 28, 2007 (aged 22)
Place of death Sevilla, Spain
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Youth clubs
2002–2004 Sevilla B
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2004–2007 Sevilla 53 (5)
National team
2006-2007 Spain 01 (0)

         MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Sevilla midfielder Antonio Puerta died Tuesday, three days after collapsing on the field during his team's Spanish league game against Getafe.
        Puerta died of "multiple organ failure stemming from prolonged cardiac arrest" and subsequent coronary problems, Virgen del Rocio Hospital director Gimeno Guerrero said in a statement.
         "This is one of the saddest days in the history of FC Sevilla," team president Jose Maria del Nido said, fighting to hold back tears.
          The 22-year-old Puerta had been in an intensive care unit since Saturday and had been given assisted ventilation, but his condition worsened Tuesday.
           Puerta lost consciousness and fell near his own goal Saturday in the 31st minute, but was able to walk off minutes later after being treated by team doctors. Doctors said he had a heart attack in the locker room and at least one more in the emergency room of a Seville hospital.
        "The Professional Football League wishes to pass on its most sincere condolences to the family of Antonio Puerta," the league said in a statement. "It has also declared the next day of league play to be one of official mourning and asked all its affiliated teams to observe a minute's silence before the games."
        A wake open to the public will be held for Puerta starting at midnight Tuesday ahead of his burial on Wednesday, and his family has asked that his body be wrapped in a team flag, Sevilla said on its Web site.
        Sevilla, which beat Getafe 4-1 in Saturday's match, was scheduled to play at AEK Athens on Tuesday in the second leg of Champions League qualifying, but the match was postponed by the Union of European Football Associations.