Cádiz-Almería derby postponed as storm batters Andalusia

LaLiga officials have finally seen sense and postponed Saturday night’s Andalusian derby between Cádiz and Almería due to the severe weather battering the region, with the match now set for Sunday at 16:15 at Nuevo Mirandilla.

Safety First Approach

It was a proper no-brainer in the end. With the Spanish meteorological agency AEMET issuing orange warnings for extreme winds and heavy rainfall, playing a football match seemed about as sensible as a chocolate teapot. Both clubs had been putting the pressure on LaLiga to make the right call, prioritising fan safety over sticking rigidly to the fixture list.

The Government Sub-Delegation for Cádiz had formally recommended postponement to both LaLiga and the Andalusian regional government, backing this up with a National Police technical report highlighting the dangers of holding mass outdoor events in such treacherous conditions.

Not the Only Casualty

The Cádiz-Almería clash wasn’t the only fixture to fall victim to the weather. The Ceuta-Córdoba match has also been called off as the storm continues to cause havoc across southern Spain.

While the Sub-Delegation doesn’t have direct authority to cancel matches, their warning about the physical safety of attendees and the hazardous travel conditions throughout the area was enough to convince LaLiga to use their loaf.

Common Sense Prevails

The decision ultimately rested with LaLiga, who finally took on board the safety concerns raised by authorities. It’s a bit of a result for common sense – no football match is worth risking life and limb for, and both sets of players and supporters can now look forward to a Sunday afternoon kickoff instead.

This sensible approach puts administrative good practice ahead of the sporting calendar, showing that when push comes to shove, the physical wellbeing of everyone involved in football is absolutely non-negotiable.