Fans pay tribute to Antonio Puerta; European Super Cup might go ahead

By: Bob | August 29th, 2007

I’ll admit that when I learned of the death of Sevilla’s Antonio Puerta on Tuesday I had no interest in blogging about football or watching any of the Champions League matches. I hardly knew the player and I’m not a Sevilla fan but to see a 22-year-old athlete die left me feeling empty. Reading the other blogs on The Offside and around the Internet I can see that I am not the only one to feel this way.

On Wednesday, fans in Spain paid tribute to Puerta. More than 10,000 people lined the streets surrounding Sevilla’s stadium where an open wake was held. In a sign that the loss is bigger than football, hundreds of fans of Sevilla’s archrivals Betis took part in the mourning.

We all deal with tragedy in our own way. For some, it is best to sit back and let the grief heal before moving on. For others, it is better to try to maintain a degree of normalcy while processing what happened. Sevilla and its players will know what is best for themselves and for their club, but I can’t help but wonder why they are thinking about going forward with the European Super Cup match against AC Milan scheduled to take place in Monaco on Friday.

Playing an exhibition two days after the players carried the coffin of their teammate just doesn’t seem right to me. I can understand the sentiment of wanting to play the game in Puerta’s honor but I just wonder about the timing.

Eventually Sevilla will have to get back on the field and over time the image of a 22-year-old falling to the pitch in front of our very eyes will fade, but right now that image is still haunting and for me it is overshadowing everything else.

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Category: Spain La Liga, World Football

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spain

hi died a hero....he will always be a legend
my deepest condolonces go out to his family and his girlfriend. His son i wish nothing but the best, and he will grow to know his father was a legend and a great player in our hearts forever
RIP ANTONIO PUERTA
Samantha

Antonio...... he will be missed by all who were close to him. I can't understand why he died so young, just 22. He could have been the next Fabregas. But I understand how his family are feeling right now.
moi

I can't bring myself to understand how someone I never really heard of and a team I didn't exactly support could actually have me feeling this way for him and his family.
julien

Sad indeed :( . R.I.P. Antonio Puerta.
mirna

I am with you Bob. I can't understand why the need to play that game or Monday's for that matter. If the UEFA game had to be postponed, it should be for a few more days.

I have the game in my tivo and I can't bring myself to delete it. It is just too sad for me and like you, I didn't know him well or followed Sevilla but it is truly sad to see a life end that way...especially, because of the baby he will never know.
Wendy

I watched that game live and the images are still burned in my head. Such a sad time for everyone who loves the beautiful game.
Peter

playing that game would be criminal. no games should be played in Spain for at least a week.