A hospital in Cadiz has sparked outrage after allegedly refusing to carry out urgent medical tests on a footballer with a suspected concussion until payment was made upfront.

The incident happened on Sunday at a private hospital in El Puerto de Santa Maria, run by the Pascual group, following a match between Trebujena CF and CD Rota in the Primera Andaluza Senior league.

According to political party Izquierda Unida (IU), the player suffered a heavy blow to the head during the game and showed clear signs of concussion, including blurred vision and numbness in his hands.

Emergency protocols were activated immediately. He was first taken to a health centre in Rota and then referred for further tests at the designated hospital under the public-private healthcare agreement.

IU claims the hospital refused to carry out a necessary CT scan until the cost of €278 was paid in advance.

During that time, the player reportedly remained seated for at least an hour, still experiencing worrying symptoms.

It was only when the club’s president stepped in and paid the bill with his own credit card that the scan was finally carried out.

Jorge Rodriguez, IU’s provincial coordinator in Cadiz, described the situation as ‘absurd’ and accused the hospital of showing a lack of basic humanity.

He stressed that hospitals operating under public agreements are legally required to treat and stabilise emergency patients first, with billing handled afterwards.

‘This is exactly what we’ve been warning about,’ he said, blaming what he called an increasing reliance on private healthcare models.

‘We’re reaching a point where people won’t be treated unless they can pay on the spot – and that’s exactly what happened here.’

The Trebujena club has reported the incident to the Andalusian Football Federation, while IU says it will take the matter to the regional parliament.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.