October 29 – The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) postponed the 24 Copa del Rey qualifiers scheduled for Wednesday following the train disaster in Toledo that has killed at least 68 people.
More than 500 passengers were traveling on the two high-speed trains when they collided near Los Yebenes, and rescuers continued to search for the wreckage this morning. Around 80 people were injured, including 15 seriously.
The RFEF canceled Wednesday’s entire schedule, as well as other domestic competition matches under its control, as a mark of respect for the dead and injured.
Five LaLiga clubs were among those due to begin their Copa del Rey campaigns: Alaves, Llevant, Valencia, Real Betis and Celta Vigo.
Unlike Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid, who enter the competition later, the top five teams had been dumped out in the opening round against lower league opposition.
The RFEF has since issued a staggered substitution schedule rather than trying to squeeze all 24 matches into a new date.
All nine will be played this evening (Thursday), with Alavés traveling to Anaitasuna on November 3, Llevant against Tarancón on November 5 and Valencia against Tavernes de la Valldigna on November 10.
Betis have been moved to November 12 against Navalcarnero, while Celta’s trip to Salamanca will now take place on November 13.
The disaster also prompted tributes throughout Spanish sport.
A minute’s silence was observed before Real Madrid’s Women’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich, with the players wearing black armbands, while the club also observed a silence in training and offered their support to the emergency services.
Barcelona has also expressed its condolences to the victims and their families, while Carlos Alcaraz has been one of the main figures in Spanish sport to send messages of support.
Postponements have inevitably complicated the Copa del Rey schedule, but there was no doubt from the federation after the scale of Wednesday’s tragedy became apparent.
The competition resumes tonight. The country’s attention, understandably, is still elsewhere.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at (email protected)
