European football: Simeone criticizes playing in Spain after flood disaster | European club football

Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone said on Saturday that there was no point in playing this weekend after catastrophic floods hit parts of Spain.

The deadliest flash floods in Spain's modern history – and the second deadliest floods of the century in Europe – have left at least 211 people dead and dozens missing. Four days after heavy rains hit the Valencia region, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Saturday. The games between Valencia and Real Madrid and Villarreal against Rayo Vallecano are among several postponed following the floods.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” Simeone told reporters ahead of his team’s home game against Las Palmas on Sunday. “What is happening is very hard; It's very moving to see the people who have taken to the streets to help, who are trying to work together with a shovel and their tools, and that speaks very well for the country, for the people, and we want to help, where we can. There are people who have it very difficult, it's very sad and they tell us to carry on and here we are, carrying on.”

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick also expressed concerns about the game. His team hosts Espanyol in a derby on Sunday. “If it were me, maybe I would do it (suspend the sport) because it is an incredible tragedy for Valencia and Spain as a whole,” the German said. “We spoke to Ferran (Torres), who is from the area, and it is not easy to decide whether to play the game or not.

“For me it is a tragedy. It was similar in Germany three years ago; it's terrible. We will do everything we can to help. LaLiga has to decide the rest.”

Real Valladolid Players posed with T-shirts to support flood victims before their game Osasuna on Saturday.