Spanish federation postpones 24 Copa del Rey first-round games after Urda train crash and sets new dates

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) postponed all 24 Copa del Rey first-round games that were scheduled for Wednesday because of the train collision near Urda, in the province of Toledo, according to EFE and AP.

“As a show of respect and solidarity with all the victims of the tragic railway accident,” the federation said it had suspended the 24 ties, EFE reported. The games included Real Betis, Celta Vigo, Valencia, Alavés, Levante and Mallorca’s first matches in this season’s competition.

New dates

Later on Wednesday the RFEF published new dates, AS reported. Nine of the games move to Thursday 29 October. The rest are spread over 3, 4, 5, 10, 12 and 13 November, according to AS.

Among them, according to AS:

• Tarancón v Levante and Alcoyano v Mallorca: Thursday 5 November
• Tavernes de la Valldigna v Valencia: Tuesday 10 November, 8pm GMT
• Navalcarnero v Real Betis: Thursday 12 November, 6pm GMT
• Salamanca UDS v Celta Vigo: Friday 13 November, 8pm GMT

AS said four of the rescheduled games (Trival Valderas v Leganés, Tavernes v Valencia, Navalcarnero v Betis and Salamanca v Celta) fall during the November international break.

For the crash itself, see our report on the Urda collision. See also: Copa del Rey first round: Villarreal 5-0 Manacor