Madrid regional government accuses Rayo Vallecano of lying about Vallecas stadium safety

Madrid's minister of Culture, Tourism and Sport, Mariano de Paco, accused Rayo Vallecano on Friday of spreading two absolute falsehoods about the condition of the Vallecas stadium. Speaking on radio, he denied that the regional administration has hidden the safety audit and rejected the club's claim that the September 2 inspection confirms the ground is safe for matches. The standoff between the club and the regional government intensifies just as the LaLiga season reaches a critical stage.

• Mariano de Paco accuses Rayo Vallecano of telling two absolute falsehoods about the stadium.
• The regional government says there are serious discrepancies between the club's account, the audit and what was seen on site.
• The September 2 inspection does not certify, according to the minister, that Vallecas meets safety conditions.
• The root of the conflict is a failure by Rayo to provide the required documentation.
• De Paco challenges president Raul Martin Presa to let the Madrid government carry out maintenance works.

The two falsehoods Madrid attributes to Rayo over the Vallecas stadium

De Paco was blunt in dismissing the claims that, according to his account, the Madrid club has been spreading. The first alleged falsehood concerns the supposed concealment of the audit by the regional government. The minister insisted there has been no such cover-up and stressed that the case has followed the standard administrative procedure of hearings and reviews. The second relates to the interpretation of the technical visit on September 2. For Rayo, that inspection backs the stadium's safety; for the administration, what was observed on site does not support that conclusion.

The origin of all this is a breach by the club.

Discrepancies between Rayo, the audit and on-site inspections

The minister outlined the administrative path that led to a new audit. Once the hearing period granted to Rayo ended on August 17, the regional government drew up an internal report that paved the way for a second review. The stated goal was not only to gather more data: it was also intended to lower the tension created by the gaps between the first audit's conclusions, the documentation provided by the club and the on-site checks carried out at the stadium. De Paco made clear that those three pieces do not fit together.

On the September 2 inspection, the regional sports chief was explicit: the technician who produced the initial audit did not certify that day that the ground was ready to host matches again. The government's version places that visit as one more step in the procedure, not as a definitive green light. Facing the club's insistence to the contrary, the minister openly used the word falsehood.

Raul Martin Presa's role and the refusal to allow maintenance works

De Paco also took aim at the stance of Rayo president Raul Martin Presa. The regional government asked the club for documentation to contrast the audit's findings and extended the submission deadline. According to the minister, the club ultimately failed to provide all the requested paperwork, which in his view explains why the case has moved toward a fresh technical review.

The regional official added a direct argument against the club's top executive. If the president himself has described the stadium as an old ground, De Paco argues, it makes little sense for the club to oppose maintenance works carried out by the Community of Madrid. The minister's rhetorical question was blunt: if the ground is old and the club is not willing to maintain it, why not let the regional government do it?

What is at stake for Rayo Vallecano with a closed or renovated stadium

The dispute between club and administration goes beyond politics: it directly affects the sporting planning of a historic LaLiga side accustomed to turning Vallecas into a fortress. A closure of the ground or major construction work would force Rayo to find an alternative home venue, disrupting their schedule as hosts and weakening one of the team's main competitive advantages: the unconditional support of their fans in a small, noisy stadium that makes life difficult for any opponent.

While the administrative case runs its course, the ball is in the club's court. The regional government keeps its offer to intervene in the building on the table, and Rayo defends its management of the venue. The outcome of the new audit will shape the next steps and determine whether Vallecas can continue to host matches as usual or whether next season begins with a ground under review.

Frequently asked questions about the Vallecas stadium dispute