Rayo Vallecano forced to close stadium with Rayo-Athletic postponed
The security department of the local Madrid government who control the stadium deemed that no more marches can be played until safety improvements are made.
The Comunidad de Madrid (local Madrid government and owners of the stadium) yesterday officially announced that “no sporting event can be held at the Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas (home to newly promoted Rayo Vallecano) from September 1st until a point that improvement work is terminated at the ground". Once this decision was made LaLiga immediately confirmed that Saturday's match-day 3 game between Rayo and Athletic Club would be postponed with doubts surrounding future Rayo home games as it was suggested that the work may not be finished on the crumbling stadium until October.
The decision was made with the safety of the fans in mind after it was reported that the sections of the "lateral" stand were shaking and moving when the visiting Sevilla fans celebrated their teams goals coupled with a four-year-old boy falling through a gate that was not properly terminated following recent structural improvement.
The club are now faced with three scenarios for forthcoming games: play matches behind closed doors, find another suitable ground within Madrid that can house the club's 13.000 season ticket holders or request that forthcoming home fixtures are revesad and modified into away games.
Communique from LaLiga:
The forthcoming match involving Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Club has been postponed.
The Community of Madrid, owner of Estadio de Vallecas, have informed LaLiga of their decision not to hold any sporting event with public attendance in the aforementioned stadium from 1 September 2018 until construction work is completed.
As a result, the match between Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Club on Matchday 3 of LaLiga Santander has been postponed until an undetermined date. LaLiga will work to find a solution that suits all parties for the upcoming matches.
Following protocol used in such situations, LaLiga have informed the RFEF of the postponement of the match due to important influencing factors.
