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Spanish Cup Matches Suspended After Train Crash
Confirmed
In Short: The RFEF stated that the decision to suspend the matches was made out of respect and solidarity with the victims and their families.
At least 68 people were killed and dozens more injured when two high-speed trains collided near Madrid, prompting the suspension of all 24 Copa del Rey matches scheduled for Wednesday.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed shock at the incident, while the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced the suspension as a mark of respect for the victims.
The collision occurred on Wednesday morning in the province of Toledo, approximately 130 kilometers south of Madrid, involving two high-speed trains carrying over 500 passengers.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid, among other top-flight clubs, were not directly affected as they are set to enter the competition in the last-32 round.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, and other clubs offered their condolences and support to the emergency services and victims' families.
The RFEF stated that the decision to suspend the matches was made out of respect and solidarity with the victims and their families.
Spanish transport minister Jose Manuel Albares said the crash occurred after a Renfe train was authorized to continue despite an active red signal due to a stationary train ahead.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared three days of official mourning following the tragic event.
The RFEF has not yet released a revised tournament schedule for the postponed Wednesday matches.
What's confirmed
- Spanish giants including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid aren't due to enter the competition until the last-32 round.
- More than 500 passengers were travelling on the trains when they collided and derailed in Toledo.
- "Real Madrid would like to express its full support to the emergency services and all those working in the rescue efforts, and shares in the grief of everyone impacted during these moments of profound sadness." Thursday's matches remain unaffected with the RFEF not yet releasing the revised tournament schedule for Wednesday's postponed games.
- "The club wishes to convey its support and solidarity to the families and friends of the victims and to wish all those injured a speedy recovery." Real Madrid took to their website to offer "full support" to the emergency services.
- Barcelona expressed its "deepest condolences" to the victims of the accident on social media.
- The Spanish Football Federation has suspended all 24 Copa del Rey matches scheduled for Wednesday following a deadly high-speed train collision in the central province of Toledo that killed at least 30 people and injured dozens more.
- "As a sign of respect and solidarity with all the victims of the tragic train accident that occurred early this Wednesday in the province of Toledo, the RFEF has suspended the 24 matches corresponding to the first round of the Spanish Copa del Rey initially scheduled to be played during this afternoon and evening," the federation said in a statement.
What's still developing
- In a phone call with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, Prince Faisal expressed Saudi Arabia’s solidarity with Spain and extended condolences to the victims’ families as well as the Spanish government and people, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
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- Esther Padilla, a spokeswoman for the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha, confirmed the location of the crash to Spanish television.
- According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the suspension affects Wednesday’s fixtures, including Navalcarnero against Real Betis, Salamanca against Celta Vigo and Tavernes against Valencia, alongside several other matches.
- The collision occurred shortly after 9:00 a.m. in Toledo province, on the high-speed rail line connecting Madrid with Seville in southwestern Spain, according to the country's rail infrastructure operator ADIF.
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