Atletico's stadium move in danger after modification plans rejected

The Community of Madrid (CAM) has failed to approve official modification plans for the Olympic Stadium – the site upon where Atletico Madrid’s new ground is being built – putting the club’s move to the yet-to-be-completed arena in jeopardy.

Admin mishap 

Officials from CAM – the local government body for the autonomous region of Madrid – rejected the Urban Planning documentation that was submitted to them owing to "substantial errors", according to the newspaper El País.

Approval is essential so that Atletico can be transferred ownership of the plot and change the use of the stadium from public to private, thus fulfilling the agreement the club signed with Madrid City Council over the project back in 2008.

19-month submission process

The City Council only processed the necessary documents earlier this month after 19-months of preparation and delays. CAM, however, reviewed and sent back the documents within just 10 days.

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Back in September 20016, Miguel Ángel Ruiz, the deputy counselor of CAM, told AS: "The Community is waiting for the City Council to forward the file concerning the new Atletico stadium. If the modification plan complies with the law, it will be approved.

“We’re aware of the timeframe that Atletico Madrid is working with and the restlessness of its fans. Our intention is to approve it as soon as possible."

Correction letter rejected 

The City Council expected resolution of the matter before 31 December, however the files it submitted contained several errors relating to the number of square meters of the surface of the plot.

After realising the error days after submitting the documents, the council sent a correction letter. However, CAS did not accept the letter and sent back the files requesting the mistakes be rectified and then be resubmitted for approval.

Atletico confident over timescale 

Although this could cause substantial further delays, Atletico Madrid say the process will not prevent the team from moving to the stadium in time for next season.

Officials at the LaLiga club however will surely now be sweating over the approval of the new submission plans, which could take up to four months, and can ill-afford any further mistakes.

Atletico will meanwhile have to hold talks with the City Council in order to come to a new agreement over the ceding of the land to the club, which was originally agreed for a deadline of 31 December 2016.