LaLiga forces Rayo Vallecano to play in Leganés after Madrid stadium safety closure

Regional government suspension of Estadio de Vallecas

The Community of Madrid, the institutional owner of Estadio de Vallecas, suspended Rayo Vallecano's stadium concession at the end of July following a technical inspection commissioned by the regional Department of Culture, Tourism and Sport. The audit cited severe deficiencies in safety, hygiene, and maintenance, alongside a state of widespread obsolescence and severe regulatory non-compliance. In response, Rayo Vallecano carried out maintenance and cleaning work over the following weeks and submitted an audit report claiming the venue was fit for use. Regional authorities rejected the petition to lift the precautionary closure on Monday afternoon, noting that technical inspectors are preparing documentation to formally initiate the extinction of the concession agreement. The decision left the reigning UEFA Conference League runners-up without access to their home venue just days before their first home fixture of the LaLiga season.

LaLiga rejects postponement request

Following the regional government's refusal, Rayo Vallecano issued a statement in the early hours of Wednesday expressing regret over the decision, stating that the board had provided all requested documentation to regional authorities. The club formally requested that LaLiga postpone the matchday 2 fixture against Deportivo Alavés, arguing that being unable to play at Vallecas represented severe damage to the club and its fanbase. The league governing body rejected the postponement on Wednesday, ruling that the legal criteria for a delay were not satisfied.

There is no regulatory cause of force majeure or provision of a competent authority that prevents the match from being played on the scheduled date.

Relocation to Butarque and ticketing logistics

With the postponement denied, Rayo Vallecano arranged to stage the match on Thursday, 20 August at 21:00 at Estadio Ontime Butarque in Leganés. The club reached an agreement with CD Leganés after abandoning an earlier proposal that would have required traveling to El Plantío in Burgos. To manage fan access, the club established a collection process allowing season ticket holders to claim equivalent match tickets at the Estadio de Vallecas box office. Collection windows were scheduled for Wednesday, 19 August from 11:00 to 22:00, and Thursday, 20 August from 10:00 to 20:45 upon presenting season accreditation.

Fan associations organize boycott and demand refunds

The venue relocation triggered immediate pushback from Rayo Vallecano's organized fanbase, culminating in a collective call to boycott the match at Butarque. Plataforma ADRV, which encompasses most of the club's official supporters' groups, joined with the Bukaneros group to instruct fans not to attend the fixture against Alavés. The groups accused club president Raúl Martín Presa of fifteen years of poor management, abandoning the first team, neglecting the youth academy, women's squad, and club staff, and endangering supporter safety with institutional complicity. The coalition also initiated collective measures to demand financial refunds for all season ticket holders for every home match staged outside Estadio de Vallecas.