Rayo Vallecano’s La Liga match at home to Real Oviedo on Saturday was postponed hours before kick-off due to unsafe playing conditions, a day after the team protested against its owner.
La Liga said the match at Rayo’s dilapidated Vallecas Stadium, due to kick-off at 1pm GMT, would be suspended due to the condition of the pitch, «with the aim of protecting the physical integrity of the players».
“At the moment, the playing field does not meet the necessary guarantees to allow the match to take place under safe conditions,” La Liga said in a statement.
The federation said Rayo had made “significant efforts” this week to ensure the match went ahead, including “a complete replacement of the turf”, but adverse weather conditions had hampered the work.
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Rayo players, supported by the coaching staff, released a statement on Friday through the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) calling for better working conditions and criticizing the condition of the stadium, pitch and training facilities.
The players said that “the condition of the grass at the Vallecas Stadium over the past month has been clearly deficient” and does not meet the “minimum requirements to play a top-level match”.
They also complained about not being able to train at the club’s training ground during pre-season due to the poor condition of the pitches there, and demanded better treatment for the club’s fans.
Rayo president and owner Raul Martin Presa, a controversial figure, has had several feuds with the club’s supporters and is deeply disliked.
Presa wants to move the club from their home in Vallecas, which fans have protested against.
Published on February 7, 2026
