- August 17, 2025
Tragedy In Premier League: Fan Dies In Stands As Match Goes On In Brighton
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A 72-year-old man died during Brighton & Hove Albion’s match against Fulham at Amex Stadium. Despite CPR and defibrillation, he couldn’t be saved. The club offered condolences.
Brighton and Fulham observe a minute’s silence. (PC: AFP)
Tragedy struck Brighton & Hove Albion FC’s Amex Stadium on Saturday as a 72-year-old man passed away during their Premier League match against Fulham.
The club said that authorities — South East Coast Ambulance Service paramedics, St John Ambulance, Sussex Police, the club’s crowd doctor and stewards — gave the fan prolonged CPR and defibrillation under privacy screens after he took unwell in the second half. They decided against taking the fan to the hospital because they felt it gave him the highest chance of survival.
“This was an incredibly sad end to the match this afternoon, and our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family and friends of the gentleman who lost his life,” Club chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber said in a statement. “While the gentleman concerned is foremost in our minds, we are also aware that it was an emotional and distressing situation for staff and supporters in the direct vicinity. Over the coming days we will ensure those affected are properly supported.”
Club doctor and emergency medicine consultant Dr Rob Galloway also gave a statement: “Firstly, I would like to convey my condolences and sympathies to the gentleman’s family and friends. It was a tragic outcome, but from an emergency response perspective, the medical care was exemplary, and the professionalism of club stewards and Sussex Police provided the medical team with the best possible working environment.”
The club and Premier League stakeholders also considered getting the match stopped but decided against that, too.
The club explained the decision, saying: “… as the majority of supporters and both sets of players were unaware at the time, the decision was taken not to do this. It was felt any stoppage would have brought further attention to the scene and potentially impacted the resuscitation attempts, as well as creating possible further complications had the patient responded and required rapid transportation to hospital.”
The club has offered support to the family of the fan.
Anxieties are already on a high the league after the tragic death of Liverpool and Portugal striker Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident before the season.
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