FC Barcelona paid tribute to the victims of recent railway tragedies in Spain with a moment of silence at Spotify Camp Nou.
The club shared a statement on X honoring those who lost their lives in the accidents at Adamuz and Gelida. The silence also remembered Carles Vilarrubí, a former vice-president of FC Barcelona, and Lucien Muller, a former Barça player and coach.
The club expressed condolences and respect, writing,
“Respectful silence at Spotify Camp Nou in memory of the victims of the tragic railway accidents in Gelida and Adamuz; for Carles Vilarrubí, who was vice-president of FC Barcelona between July 2010 and October 2017; and for Lucien Muller, who was a Barça player for three years and the team’s coach during the 1978/79 season. May they rest in peace.”
The tribute followed a devastating high-speed rail disaster in Adamuz, Córdoba, on 18 January 2026. A passenger train derailed on a section of track refurbished less than a year earlier. A second high-speed train then collided with it, causing both to derail. The crash killed 45 people and injured 292 others, including 15 in critical condition. It was Spain’s worst railway accident since 2013 and one of the deadliest in the country’s history.
Just two days later, another fatal incident occurred near Gelida, close to Barcelona. A commuter Rodalies train struck a retaining wall that collapsed onto the track during heavy storms. The driver was killed and at least 37 passengers were injured, five seriously. Emergency services evacuated all passengers, and firefighters worked for nearly an hour to free one trapped survivor.
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An investigation is conducted for the Railway Tragedy
Investigators are now examining whether rail damage played a role in the Adamuz crash. A preliminary report suggested a possible fracture in the rail before the derailment. Spain’s transport minister said such damage may have occurred shortly before the accident, making detection difficult. Officials are also testing whether a manufacturing defect could be involved.
The twin tragedies have sparked calls for action across Spain. The main train drivers’ union announced a three-day strike in February, demanding stronger safety measures. Opposition leaders have also criticized the government’s handling of rail safety and transparency.
As investigations continue, football grounds like Camp Nou have become places of shared mourning. Barcelona’s gesture reflected a wider national grief, uniting sport and society in remembrance.