On November 23, Valencia CF will play football again. It will be an emotional return to the pitch, as the region continues to mourn the hundreds of victims of the natural disaster.
Valencia CF is about to restart. The last time the players were in action was on October 27 against FC Getafe (1-1), before the storm DANA hit the country. The games against Real Madrid, at Espanyol Barcelona and in the cup at Parla Escuela were canceled, and now the return is on the agenda. But even in the game against Betis after the international break, sport will be in the background.
As Valencia announced, the players will line up in black jerseys. These will carry messages of support for those affected by the natural disaster. The death toll in Spain now stands at 224, with 216 in the province of Valencia alone. 16 people are still missing.
However, the response is not just about grand gestures. As the club announced on Wednesday, all proceeds from the game will be donated with the aim of “contributing to the recovery of the province of Valencia and enabling children affected by the cyclone to return to sporting and school activities”.
Valencia emphasized that in this way “there is an additional incentive to meet again at Mestalla for the first time since the disaster”. They have also already “prepared various honors and expressions of gratitude that will be presented in the coming days”.
Valencia is now last in the league
The victims were also remembered at other stadiums during the past few matchdays. For example, a large flag of the province of Valencia was unfurled in the stand during the minute’s silence at Real Madrid’s match against Osasuna.
Valencia have since slipped to the bottom of the table with seven points from 11 games, but of course they have played fewer games than their competitors. A non-relegation spot is just three points away. Getafe are currently in 17th place with ten points from 13 games.