The match between Rayo Vallecano and Oviedo, scheduled for this Saturday, was suspended just hours before its start due to poor pitch conditions at the Estadio de Vallecas. The decision was communicated by La Liga at 10:16 local time, one hour earlier in mainland Portugal, with the organization justifying the measure as necessary to "preserve the physical integrity of the players." According to La Liga, the playing surface did not meet the necessary safety conditions for the match of the 23rd round. Rayo Vallecano had completely replaced the pitch during the week, but the work was affected by adverse weather conditions and the forecast of persistent rain. Despite continuous monitoring, the state of the pitch did not reach the ideal level required. The decision surprised the club from the Madrid area, especially since the first team trained without complaints on Friday afternoon in Vallecas, with the pitch appearing to be in good condition. Furthermore, the rain stopped overnight, increasing the discomfort regarding the reasons for the postponement. Early Saturday morning, president Raúl Martín Presa, along with members of the board and the team captain, went to the stadium to personally inspect the pitch. The opinion of the fans present at the site was unanimous: "The pitch is fine." The postponement came hours after the Rayo squad and coaching staff, with the support of the Spanish Footballers' Association, issued a strong statement denouncing several deficiencies in the club's infrastructure, including the stadium and the sports city. In that document, the progressive deterioration of the pitch was mentioned, among other structural shortcomings that, according to the players, have been ongoing for months and were already noted in refereeing reports. According to regulations, a period is now opened for clubs to propose a new date for the match. Until then, fans of both teams will be left without football, awaiting a definitive resolution.
Rayo Vallecano Estadio de Vallecas remains central to this story.
Rayo Vallecano Estadio de Vallecas remains central to this story.
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