European football: Simeone criticises playing in Spain after floods disaster

The Atlético Madrid manager, Diego Simeone, said on Saturday it made no sense to play this weekend after catastrophic floods swept through parts of Spain.

The deadliest flash floods in Spain’s modern history – and the second-deadliest European floods of the century – have killed at least 211 people and dozens are unaccounted for, four days after torrential rains swept the region of Valencia, the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said on Saturday. The matches between Valencia and Real Madrid, along with Villarreal versus Rayo Vallecano, are among several postponed after the floods.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” Simeone told reporters before his side’s home game on Sunday against Las Palmas. “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.”

Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, also voiced concerns about playing. His team host Espanyol in a derby on Sunday. “If it were me, I might do it [suspend sport] because it is an incredible tragedy for Valencia and Spain as a whole,” the German said. “We have spoken with Ferran [Torres], who is from the area, and it is not easy to decide whether the game should be played or not.

“For me it is a tragedy. It was something similar in Germany three years ago; it is horrible. We will do everything we can to help. The rest is for LaLiga to decide.”

Real Valladolid players posed with shirts supporting the victims of the floods before their game at Osasuna on Saturday.