Puerta

Antonio Puerta passed away at age 22, following his collapse in the Sevilla - Getafe game. It is tragic indeed when football takes lives, it doesn't matter whether the person is a star or a squad player or a fan. According to reports, he is succeeded by his girlfriend who is expecting their son next month. I guess the only consolation is that, having experienced heart attacks before this during games, he knew that the risk was there, and he died playing the game he loved. Real Betis, being the cross town local derby death-rivals of Sevilla, have never been their best pals, but it was touching to hear that Betis Chairman Manuel Ruiz de Lopera was one of the first to offer his condolences. Football is perhaps not more important than life or death, but they are inextricably linked.

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