European finalists demand stadium reopened ‘immediately’ and threaten legal action after it was shut amid safety fears

RAYO VALLECANO have demanded that their stadium be reopened immediately having been BANNED from playing there in July. And the LaLiga side and last season’s Conference League finalists have even threatened to take legal action if they do not get their wish. Rayo Vallecano are demanding that their Vallecas home be reopened Credit: Getty Rayo have played their opening two home games of the season at Leganes Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Rayo’s Vallecas ground was shut just weeks before the new season over safety concerns. An audit commissioned by local government chiefs found a risk of Legionnaires’ disease – a lung condition caused by bacteria in water – from the stadium. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! It also pointed to fire hazards from debris at the ground in addition to electrical issues. As such, the Madrid-based club have been forced to play their first two home matches of the season at Butarque, the home of Leganes. Following safety work done on Vallecas, Rayo are demanding that they be allowed to return to their traditional home. In a club statement, the Spanish side claim that an audit guaranteeing the safety and hygiene of the ground was received by the Regional Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Sport yesterday. Rayo chiefs believe that they should be allowed to play Tuesday’s scheduled home fixture against Espanyol at Vallecas, rather than Butarque. In an apparent dig at how quickly they were banned from their ground in July, Rayo’s statement added: “In these communications, the Regional Minister stated that procedures must be respected, procedures that the Club is unaware of beyond having read and confirmed the conclusion of the independent report prepared by CEIDAL. Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS “Even so, on the other hand, and assuming the councilor’s argument, Rayo Vallecano trusted that the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport, and in turn the General Directorate of Sports, would act with the same diligence and speed they demonstrated on July 14th, when they were able to read and interpret a report of more than 120 pages and draft their own 12-page report in just 85 minutes. “This, incidentally, has been proven by expert analysis, not something Rayo Vallecano is simply stating.” The statement went on to plead: “The Club simply asks, implores, that the Board Member exercise personal, professional, and political honesty by keeping his word (and acting according to his own judgement) and immediately lifting—between today, September 12th, and tomorrow, September 13th—the injunction that prevents Rayo Vallecano from playing matches at its stadium, the Vallecas Stadium. “If this occurs immediately, Rayo states that the match against RCD Espanyol scheduled for September 15th could be played.” The statement then concluded with the threat of legal action if they do not get their way. It read: “Finally, before concluding a statement that we would certainly have preferred to have different content, we would like to clarify that ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING stated here is true, and we possess documentary evidence to support it. “Therefore, the club reserves the right to take any legal action against anyone who attempts to defame, disparage, or undermine the Club or any of its members.” Rayo are unbeaten at their temporary home, having drawn 1-1 with Alaves and beaten Racing Santander 3-2. Tonight they will be in action away from home, as they face neighbours Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Comment now