RFEF suspends Copa del Rey match in Tenerife after attack on Sporting de Hortaleza bus

Ambush outside the Tasagaya stadium

On Sunday, 4 October 2026, the second leg of the preliminary round of the Copa del Rey Mapfre was scheduled to kick off at 13:00 at the Estadio Municipal Tasagaya-José Ramos in Güímar, Tenerife. As the team bus carrying Madrid-based club AD Sporting de Hortaleza approached the venue, hooded individuals attacked the vehicle by throwing rocks. The barrage shattered multiple windows of the coach while players and technical staff were on board. Occupants of the bus took cover to protect themselves from flying glass and recorded videos of the aggression, with several members sharing the footage across social media platforms. Although no severe physical injuries were reported inside the bus, the hostility continued upon the squad's arrival at the facility, where local supporters threw objects and struck a visiting footballer with a plastic bottle during pre-match preparations.

Locker room standoff and official suspension

Faced with hostile crowds outside and inside the stadium, Sporting de Hortaleza players and coaching staff retreated to the dressing rooms and refused to take the pitch. Club representatives stated that individuals waiting outside were hooded and carrying knives, arguing that the lack of adequate initial security arrangements created unacceptable risks. The visiting team remained locked inside the dressing rooms until officers from the Guardia Civil arrived on site to secure the area. Sporting de Hortaleza formally requested an immediate postponement of the match, citing a lack of safety guarantees. The Real Federación Española de Fútbol granted the request and announced the suspension in an official statement.

The match between Atlético Unión Güímar and Sporting de Hortaleza, corresponding to the return leg of the preliminary round of the Copa del Rey Mapfre, has been suspended.

The board of directors of AD Sporting de Hortaleza condemned the assault, characterizing the ambush as a deplorable act of violence.

Background friction and airport evacuation

Pre-match friction had surfaced prior to Sunday's clash in the Canary Islands. The head coach of Atlético Unión Güímar had stated on Radio Club Tenerife that his squad had unsettled scores from the first leg, claiming improper treatment during their prior visit to the Hortaleza district of Madrid. Sporting de Hortaleza entered the second leg with a 1-0 aggregate advantage, having won the first leg at home. The winner of the tie is scheduled to advance to the next round of the tournament to face an opponent from Spain's top division, drawn from a group consisting of Real Betis, Sevilla FC, Rayo Vallecano, or Getafe CF. Following the cancellation, Guardia Civil officers provided an escort for the entire Madrid delegation from the Municipal José Ramos stadium directly to the airport to depart the island.

Disciplinary review and prospective scenarios

The final resolution of the fixture now rests with the disciplinary committee of the Real Federación Española de Fútbol. Sporting authorities have outlined three potential pathways to resolve the preliminary tie: awarding an outright walkover and qualification to Sporting de Hortaleza, rescheduling the second leg behind closed doors, or staging the fixture at a neutral venue. Meanwhile, security forces in Tenerife have initiated an investigation into the ambush outside the stadium to identify the hooded assailants. As of Sunday afternoon, law enforcement authorities had not announced any arrests linked to the attack.