Madrid : The La Liga match between Rayo Vallecano and Real Oviedo was postponed just hours before kick-off after the Vallecas Stadium pitch was deemed unsafe, raising concerns over player safety and match integrity.
La Liga confirmed that the playing surface failed to meet minimum safety standards, following heavy rainfall in Madrid that prevented the newly installed turf from settling properly. The league said the decision was taken “with the aim of ensuring the physical integrity of the players.”
Despite Rayo Vallecano’s last-minute effort to replace the pitch earlier in the week, continued rain compromised the surface, leaving officials with no choice but to suspend the fixture. La Liga added that both the league and the club “used all available resources to exhaust every option” before making the final call.
The postponement comes amid growing unrest at Rayo, with players and coaching staff recently criticizing the club’s infrastructure via the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE). In a statement, the squad said “the state of the pitch has been clearly deficient” and “does not meet the minimum conditions to play a top-level match.”
Meanwhile, Real Oviedo expressed frustration over the late postponement, noting that their squad and fans had already traveled. The club stated it would “analyse and pursue all appropriate actions” to safeguard fair competitive conditions, with sporting stakes high in the relegation battle — Oviedo sit bottom on 16 points, while Rayo are 18th with 22 points.
A new date for the fixture is yet to be confirmed, adding further uncertainty to both teams’ survival hopes.
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