The Spanish sporting world has been as affected as the rest of the Spanish people by the hell that the victims are going through in Valencia

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Football turns to Valencia and pays tribute to the victims of the DANA

The recent DANA that hit the Valencian Community last Tuesday has left not only desolate images of flooded streets and houses, but also a wave of solidarity from hundreds of volunteers from all over Spain, joined by the world of sport. Coaches, footballers, ex-players, pilots and clubs from all over Spain have shown their support for those affected by the heavy rains and floods, many of them even travelling to the most damaged villages to help directly in the clean-up work.

Osasuna coach Vicente Moreno set an example that many sportsmen followed. The Valencian from Massanassa, one of the worst affected municipalities, travelled the day after the match to work side by side with his community in the removal of water and mud. Wearing gloves and wellies, Moreno helped clean his own house and those of his neighbours, showing that commitment goes beyond the pitch. His club, Osasuna, gave him permission to be absent from the upcoming cup match in Chiclana, allowing him to devote time to his homeland at this difficult time.

Other players and ex-players also joined in the relief effort. Valencia and Levante players have been distributing food and cleaning products in the worst affected areas. Among them are Pepelu, Gayà and Jaume Domenech, who, along with other members of their teams, showed that at this time football takes a back seat. Former players such as Roberto Soldado and Vicente Rodríguez also joined the aid effort in the l'Horta Sud region, while the Mestalla stadium became a collection centre, collecting tonnes of basic necessities.

The show of support spread throughout the Primera División, with emotional tributes to the victims in stadiums across Spain. In the match between Sevilla and Real Sociedad, the Sánchez Pizjuán stadium wore the colours of the Valencia flag in a touching gesture of solidarity. Simeone, at the Metropolitano, scored a goal wearing a shirt in support of the Valencian Community after scoring against Las Palmas. Marc Márquez and Carlos Sainz, in motor racing, also wore black caps on their helmets as a show of support, while Jorge Martín and Pecco Bagnaia waved a Valencian flag on the podium of the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The scale of the tragedy led Valencia, Levante and other teams to request the postponement of their cup matches. The Spanish Football Federation has responded positively, rescheduling the matches to allow clubs and players to focus on supporting their communities. Valencia said in a statement that, at this time, ‘all energies must be focused on helping the people affected’, stressing that football is not the priority when tragedy strikes so closely.

The cup schedule for these teams has been rearranged to include the Valencia v Parla, Levante v Pontevedra and Manises' clash with Getafe. The club also requested the postponement of its Liga F match against Cacereño, on the understanding that the priority now is to support the families and communities dealing with the devastation.

Over the coming days, it is likely that athletes and clubs will continue to show their support in a variety of ways. While the ball continues to roll on pitches across Spain, grief and solidarity also feature prominently each day, reminding us that football, like its protagonists, is not exempt from engaging when the community needs help.