- The Spanish club will play against Granada in LaLiga on Saturday
- A deadly apartment fire in the city has left four people dead and more feared missing
- While Pep Guardiola is at Manchester City, it will be difficult for anyone to unseat them – Listen to the It’s all Kicking Off podcast
Valencia have called for their LaLiga match against Granada to be postponed this weekend in the wake of the deadly fires in the city on Thursday evening.
Four people are currently confirmed dead in the blazing fire that ripped through a 14-storey tower block in the Spanish city. The death toll is expected to rise further.
Valencia has now issued a message of support to the city as it mourns the tragic events that have drawn comparisons to the devastating Grenfell Tower fires in England in 2017, which killed more than 70 people.
The club, which is eighth in the Spanish standings and pushing for a place in next season’s Champions League, will play Granada on Saturday.
The match will be played at Granada’s Los Carmenes Stadium, but Valencia believes that going ahead with the match given the current circumstances is not in accordance with the city’s three days of mourning.
Valencia submitted a formal request to LaLiga on Thursday evening following the deadly fires in the city
Your browser does not support iframes.
The emotional statement on their official club website read: ‘Valencia CF has been devastated by the terrible fire that took place on Thursday on Avenida Maestro Rodrigo, in the Campanar district of Valencia, and we would like to express our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
‘We would also like to publicly thank the emergency services for their commendable work.
‘This Friday, the players and coaches of the men’s first team, the women’s first team and the VCF Academy teams will observe a minute’s silence at the start of training in memory of the victims.
‘The club has requested a postponement of next Saturday’s LaLiga match against Granada CF.
‘In line with the three days of mourning declared in the Valencia region, Valencia CF will fly the flags at half-mast at our branches. We also offer our assistance to institutions and emergency services for any need they may have,” the club added.
Fourteen people are currently feared missing as a result of the fire at the apartment block, as firefighters prepare to enter the building after a battle to extinguish the flames.
Valencia has now issued a statement of support to the city as it mourns the tragic events
Firefighters expect to find fourteen more bodies when they enter a Spanish apartment block destroyed by fire (pictured on Thursday evening) in a Grenfell Tower-style disaster
Firefighters work at the site during the building fire in Valencia on February 22, 2024
People trying to escape the flames had to jump from balconies to look for vantage points from which firefighters could rescue.
Others had to jump onto inflatable mats placed on the ground to break the fall of those who jumped from the residential tower.
The block, which is home to 138 flats and more than 400 residents, was ripped up when the fire broke out just before 5.30pm and tore through the flammable cladding, which along with strong winds has been blamed for its rapid spread.
It is believed LaLiga is considering Valencia’s proposal ahead of Saturday afternoon’s match.