In the aftermath of a devastating train collision in Spain that claimed dozens of lives, the local soccer community rallied to honor the victims by postponing scheduled matches. Lee Kang-in, currently playing for Atletico Madrid, and Roberto Moreno, the interim head coach of the South Korean national soccer team, both expressed their heartfelt condolences.
On Wednesday, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced the postponement of all matches under its jurisdiction, including 24 Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) games scheduled for that day, in response to the tragic train accident in the Toledo region.
The federation stated that this decision was made to show solidarity with the victims of the catastrophe. They will announce the rescheduled dates for the postponed matches at a later time.
In an official statement, the federation emphasized that the Spanish soccer community stands united in grief over this tragedy. They pledged to work closely with relevant authorities to provide support for the victims.
The collision occurred on a high-speed rail section near Urda in southern Toledo. An AVE train operated by the state-owned Renfe collided with a train from the private company Irio on the tracks connecting Madrid to southern Andalusia.
Local authorities report that the death toll has reached 68, with over 100 people injured. Of those hurt, 58 were transported to hospitals, with 15 reported to be in critical condition.
Lee Kang-in, who developed his soccer career in Spain, joined in mourning the victims.
He shared a condolence post from his team, Atletico Madrid, on his social media and added a praying hands emoji to express his sympathy.
Atletico Madrid conveyed their deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wished for a speedy recovery for those injured.
Moreno, the Spanish-born coach, also participated in the outpouring of grief.
As he prepares to announce the roster for the upcoming two-match away series in the Middle East this November, Moreno took to social media to express his condolences to the victims’ families and friends, offering comfort and support to all those affected by this tragic event.