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Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone said on Saturday it made no sense to play this weekend after catastrophic floods swept the eastern region of Spain.
The deadliest flash floods in Spain’s modern history have killed at least 211 people and dozens were still unaccounted for, four days after torrential rains swept the region of Valencia, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said earlier on Saturday.
The tragedy is already Europe’s worst flood-related disaster since 1967 when at least 500 people died in Portugal.
Saturday’s clash between Valencia and Real Madrid, as well as Villarreal versus Rayo Vallecano are among several games postponed over the weekend after the floods.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” Simeone told reporters ahead of his side’s home game against Las Palmas on Sunday.
“What is happening is very hard; it is very moving to see the people who went out on the streets to help, who with a shovel and their tools are trying to collaborate and that speaks very well of the country, of the people, and we want to help wherever we can.
“There are people having a very hard time, it’s very sad and they tell us to continue and here we are, continuing.”
Osasuna forward Ante Budimir showed his support for the casualties of the disaster on Saturday, celebrating his goal against Real Valladolid by holding up a shirt emblazoned with a message of solidarity.
Atlético, fifth in the LaLiga standings with 20 points from 11 matches, host 18th-placed Las Palmas and Simeone expects a tough test.
Last month, Las Palmas named former Espanyol boss Diego Martinez as their new coach.
“We have a tough game against a team that has improved a lot since the arrival of the coach,” Simeone said.
“They are more forceful and I imagine a dangerous game, with a lot of counter-attacking, fast people in attack and we will try to have a game with these situations under control and get it out with the help of our fans, which is always fundamental.”