Hooded Attackers Target Team Bus in Tenerife
Sunday evening’s Copa del Rey first-round tie between Atlético Unión Güímar and Sporting de Hortaleza was suspended before kickoff on Oct. 4, 2026, after violent confrontations erupted outside the Tasagaya municipal stadium in Tenerife. The visiting Madrid side refused to take the pitch, pointing to an abject lack of security after hooded individuals carrying knives hurled stones directly at their team bus. Sporting de Hortaleza players ultimately left the venue under police escort to catch a return flight to the mainland, throwing the opening round of the competition into chaos.
Security Concerns Force Madrid Club to Abandon Match
The visiting delegation remained locked inside the dressing rooms for an extended period following the initial attacks outside the stadium. Players and staff flatly declined to warm up or enter the field until members of the Guardia Civil arrived to secure the premises. Yet the danger persisted. Additional incidents occurred immediately prior to the scheduled start, including a plastic bottle thrown from the stands that struck a Sporting de Hortaleza player. With conditions deemed entirely unsafe, the Madrid club exited the facility under heavy security and headed straight for the airport.
Lingering Animosity from the Madrid Leg
Hostility between the two clubs dates back to the opening leg of the tie in Madrid, where Sporting de Hortaleza secured a 1-0 victory. Following that fixture, the Atlético Unión Güímar manager acknowledged on Radio Club Tenerife that “pending accounts” existed between the squads due to what the club perceived as poor treatment during their visit to the capital.
Disciplinary Crossroads for Organizers
Competition organizers now face three distinct paths to resolve the suspended fixture: ordering the match to be replayed at a neutral venue, mandating a fixture behind closed doors, or awarding a default victory to Sporting de Hortaleza.
Keep reading
