The decision by La Liga to continue with most of the weekend’s fixtures has faced criticism. While matches involving Valencia and Villarreal were postponed due to severe flooding in the region, other games went ahead. This has led to questions about the league’s priorities, with managers expressing concerns.
The torrential rains that battered the region on Monday have resulted in widespread devastation, with at least 211 confirmed fatalities and countless others affected.
Despite the ongoing crisis, several La Liga matches were scheduled to go ahead. Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone expressed his frustration with the decision: “It doesn’t make any sense… There are people having a very bad time, it is very sad and they tell us to carry on and here we are, carrying on.”
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick echoed Simeone’s sentiments, stating, “If it were me, I might do it [suspend sport] because it is an incredible tragedy for Valencia and Spain as a whole.”
Girona manager Michel also voiced his concern, admitting that celebrating a victory felt inappropriate given the circumstances. Girona player Miguel Gutierrez paid tribute to the victims, saying, “I believe the match takes a backseat. Aside from Madrid, the city I’ve spent the most time in where I have the most friends and connections is Valencia. I can assure you that I’ve seen videos and been on video calls with friends and it’s a complete disaster, an absolute nightmare.”
As the region continues to recover from the devastating floods, the decision to proceed with La Liga matches has sparked debate about the balance between sporting commitments and human tragedy.
