The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced in an official statement that all Copa del Rey matches scheduled for Wednesday will be postponed, in response to the tragic incident that occurred early in the morning in the province of Toledo. More than twenty people were injured and 46 people died after two high-speed trains collided in the area, prompting the federation to express “respect and solidarity with all the victims of the accident” and set a new date for the matches later.
The decision came after the Spanish Federation reported the details of the accident, which occurred near the town of Orda, about 130 kilometers south of Madrid, according to statements by the spokeswoman for the Castilla-La Mancha regional government, Esther Badia. Authorities determined that the incident occurred early Wednesday morning, causing the federation to decide to suspend 24 matches in the first round of the tournament, which were scheduled to be played this afternoon and evening.
According to the statement issued, two main teams in the tournament, Barcelona and Real Madrid, will not be affected, as they will start their career in the next round, and therefore their schedules do not need to be adjusted. However, the other teams' matches in the first round will be rescheduled, and new dates will be announced at a later date, the RFEF announced.
The federation indicated that the decision to stop came as a humanitarian measure, while acknowledging that the incident had a profound impact on the entire Spanish society. He also indicated that the Federation will remain in contact with all concerned parties to ensure the safety of players and fans, while committing to providing the necessary support to the victims and their families.
In light of this postponement, the tournament will remain at the forefront of the sporting calendar in Spain, with matches expected to be held as soon as possible after security and logistical conditions have been assessed. The Spanish Federation remains committed to providing a safe and appropriate environment for the game, while continuing to monitor developments in the area affected by the incident.