World Cup game as scheduled despite Madrid explosion

Madrid, Oct 11 (IANS) The World Cup qualifying game between Spain and Belarus is not in danger despite an explosion in the Son Moix Stadium in Mallorca, it was confirmed by the Spanish Football Federation.

The explosion which took place in a generator in the car park outside of the ground where the game is to be played at 10 p.m. Friday left two people with serious burns, while a third person also needed treatment for injuries received in the blast, reports Xinhua.

One of the victims has 70 percent burns and was flown to a burns unit of the Vall de Hebron hospital in Barcelona, while the second, who has 60 percent burns, is being treated on the island.

The explosion happened at 3.15 p.m. leaving the ground without electricity and the Spanish FA had begun to consider a late change of venue, before partial electricity was restored during the late afternoon and early evening.

“The game is not in any danger and we are not working on a change of date. The only thing we have to lament is the state of those who are injured. We have news that tells us that the material damage has been identified and we will be able to solve it in time. The two sides are going to train in the ground and tomorrow (Friday) the game will be played as normal in Son Moix,” confirmed Spanish FA spokesman, Jorge Carretero.

Meanwhile, police are investigating the explosion but there are no indications that it was caused by anything other than an accident.

Both sides were able to train in Son Moix in the evening with 8,000 fans watching the session of the Spanish side, who will assure their place in next summer’s World Cup finals if they are able to beat the weakest side in their qualifying group.

The Spanish training session was briefly affected by a short failure in the electricity in the ground, although coach Vicente del Bosque was able to finish his preparation with only partial lighting in the ground.