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A Spanish second-tier football match was abandoned after a fan suffered a fatal heart attack. The Sporting de Gijon versus Leganes match was halted after just four minutes when the home team supporter fell ill at the 29,371-capacity El Molinon ground.

Medical responders were mobilized to assist 82-year-old Constantino Rodriguez, a Sporting season ticket holder for the past 40 years who was in the stands with his son and schoolboy grandson. The game was officially called off - and spectators asked to leave the stadium - just before 5pm yesterday 45 minutes after the 4.15pm kick-off following failed attempts to revive the football-mad pensioner when the players were in the changing rooms.

Fans applauded in a mark of respect before leaving the ground, the 20th largest stadium in Spain. The northern Spanish club said in a statement late yesterday, referencing the dead man by his initials: "Real Sporting de Gijon mourns the passing of CRG, aged 82, at the start of this afternoon's Sporting-CD Leganes match at El Molinon, corresponding to Matchday 28 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION.

"He had been a club season ticket holder for 40 years. Today is a very sad day. May he rest in peace. Our support and affection go out to his family and loved ones.

"Real Sporting would like to thank all the health and security personnel for their work, and our fans and those of CD Leganes for their exemplary behavior at all times."

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Sporting left-back Brian Olivan gifted Mr Rodriguez's heartbroken grandson Sergio a shirt before he left the stadium with his dad.

Madrid side Leganes also released a statement online, saying: "We share the grief of family, friends and everyone at @Realsporting and we offer our most sincere condolences."

It was subsequently announced that the suspended match will be played tonight at 8pm. The man who died was married to a woman called Elisa and lived in the town of Pola de Siero around ten miles south of the coastal city of Gijon in Spain's Asturian region.

An acquaintance of Constantino, a retired former construction worker better known by his nickname of Tanti, said overnight: "He was a real Sporting fan, like the rest of his family, a good man and a very humble person." Local reports said he had overcome tragedy in his life when his son Ivan died aged just 39.

Constantino's son Javier Rodriguez said last night: "We are very grateful for the club's help. Sporting has gone above and beyond what could have been expected. They have been with us every step of the way, and at a time like this, that is something to be recognized. All we can do is give thanks."

The Ceuta vs Almeria match was halted after 18 minutes when a supporter fell ill and died in the stands. The Ceuta vs Almeria match was halted after 18 minutes when the supporter was taken ill.

The 73-year-old man was carried out of the Alfonso Murube Stadium on a stretcher amid applause and taken to hospital before the game was restarted.

At half-time, when it was confirmed he had passed away and local media named him as former police chief Manolo Carrero, the match was called off and the news was announced over the PA system.

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