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A PLANE carrying a Spanish football team has been forced to make an emergency landing following engine failure.
The drama late last night led to Cadiz FC, which played in Spain’s top-flight LaLiga division this season before being relegated, cancelling a trip to El Salvador.
The team was heading to the Central American country to play in a tribute friendly match for ex-player Jorge Gonzalez, a Salvadoran professional footballer better known as El Magico or the Magical One and regarded as Cadiz’s best-ever player.
The 66-year-old retired striker took part in the 1982 World Cup for his nation and scored nearly 70 goals during his two spells with the Spanish team.
The EuroAtlantic Airways flight scheduled to take the footballers across the Atlantic was due to leave Jerez Airport in south-west Spain yesterday morning but take-off ended up being delayed to around 9pm.
It had to make an emergency landing in Seville shortly after take-off.
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A Cadiz FC spokesman said late last night: “The Cadiz FC expedition had to make an emergency landing a few minutes ago at Seville Airport after a mechanical failure on the plane to El Salvador.
“Given the circumstances and the airline being unable to find a solution, the trip to El Salvador has been cancelled.
“From now on we will work to fulfil our commitment to Jorge 'Magico’ González, El Salvador and the Salvadorans.”
Cadiz were due to play against El Salvador’s national team in Thursday’s friendly, following the inauguration of a museum dedicated to their former player hailed as one of the most-skilled footballers ever produced by the Central American country.
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The match was due to be played at a stadium named after Cadiz’s former star striker.
Cadiz FC’s president Manuel Vizcaino admitted moments after the team’s charter plane landed at Seville Airport the players were “in shock.”
He said of the incident: “It was scary.
"The situation is what is is and we have to return to Cadiz but we are keen to look for dates when we can be with our Salvadoran friends."
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