All Spanish King's Cup (Copa del Rey) matches scheduled for Wednesday have been postponed as a mark of respect for the victims of a rail disaster near Madrid, in which at least 68 people died. The decision was announced by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
More than 500 passengers were travelling on the trains involved in the collision and derailment in Toledo. The accident occurred between the towns of Los Yebenes and Urda in the province of Toledo.
Five top-flight teams were due to feature in the first round on Wednesday - Levante, Alaves, Valencia, Celta Vigo and Real Betis. Spanish giants, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, do not enter the competition until the round of 16, so their matches were not scheduled for Wednesday.
Matches scheduled for Thursday remain unchanged, and the RFEF has not yet announced a new schedule for the postponed fixtures.
A minute's silence was held before Real Madrid's Women's Champions League match against Bayern in Munich on Wednesday evening, with Real Madrid players wearing black armbands.
Barcelona expressed its "deepest condolences" to the victims of the disaster on social media. The club expressed sympathy for the victims of the severe rail accident between Los Yebenes and Urda in Toledo, support and solidarity with the families and friends of the victims, and wished a speedy recovery to all those injured.
Real Madrid expressed its "full support" for emergency services on its website. The club expressed its deepest sorrow over the tragic rail disaster in the province of Toledo, extended condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and showed affection and solidarity with the injured and all those affected by the accident. Real Madrid also expressed full support for emergency services and all those involved in the rescue efforts, sharing the grief of all those affected in these moments of deep mourning.
Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz also expressed his condolences. "All my love and support to the families of the victims and all the people affected in these difficult moments," the seven-time Grand Slam winner said on the X platform.
