Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has said all football in Spain should be put on hold after flash floods in Valencia left at least 217 people dead.
Madrid’s LaLiga game at Valencia — which was due to be played on Saturday – was postponed, along with Villarreal’s game with Rayo Vallecano, but the remaining eight top-flight matches in Spain went ahead.
LaLiga has been collaborating with the Red Cross to raise money for those affected by the flooding, after thousands of homes and businesses were damaged, and transport links disrupted, in one of the most severe natural disasters in recent Spanish history.
“It’s been a week of tragedy, and we’re sad,” Ancelotti said in a news conference on Monday. “We’re very close to Valencia and all the affected towns. Hopefully it can be resolved soon. Talking about football is difficult, and so is playing football. We are part of this country, and it affects us a lot.”
Madrid, whose appearance saw them beaten 4-0 by Barcelona in October. 26, host AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.
“Your head isn’t in your work,” Ancelotti said, when asked if it had been difficult to prepare. “We are going to prepare for the game, because we’re professionals. That’s what we have to do.”
A number of players and coaches have suggested that no professional football should have taken place in Spain over the weekend, with Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone saying the decision to continue “makes no sense.”
