The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has postponed 24 matches in the opening round of the Copa del Rey following a deadly high-speed train collision that killed at least 64 people and injured more than 100 others.
The federation said the decision was taken “as a mark of respect and solidarity” with the victims of the crash, which occurred on Wednesday in Spain’s central region of Castilla-La Mancha.
“The entire Spanish football family stands united in grief over this tragedy and stands ready to assist the authorities in helping the victims of this devastating accident,” the RFEF said in a statement published on its website on Wednesday.
The federation added that the 24 matches, originally scheduled for Wednesday afternoon and evening, had been suspended in honour of those affected by the disaster.
It also said further details would be provided regarding the revised tournament schedule and the new kick-off times for the postponed fixtures.
The decision came after the high-speed train collision south of Madrid left at least 64 people dead and more than 100 injured, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise.
Several carriages were overturned at the bottom of an embankment, surrounded by twisted metal and wreckage, as emergency services rushed to the scene. Helicopters hovered overhead while rescue teams searched for survivors.
“We are speaking of approximately 64 (dead), but this is probably going to grow even more,” Castilla-La Mancha regional leader Emiliano García-Page told reporters at the scene, revising an earlier death toll of 31.
Spain’s state railway operator, Renfe, confirmed that the main high-speed rail line connecting Madrid with southern Spain had been suspended following the collision involving one of its services and a train operated by private railway company Iryo.
Iryo said its train, which was carrying 147 passengers and five staff members, including the driver, had been “hit from behind” by the Renfe service.
The cause of the collision remained unknown as emergency crews continued their response and authorities began investigating the circumstances surrounding the disaster.
