Rayo Vallecano players issue open letter, blast management and Madrid government

Published Jul 31, 01:46 PM UTC

La Liga club Rayo Vallecano faces a deepening crisis after the Madrid regional government ordered the emergency closure of Vallecas Stadium due to serious safety hazards. In response, all first-team players jointly issued a strongly worded open letter expressing anger and frustration. The players declared their sole wish is to continue playing at Vallecas Stadium alongside their fans, and they directly criticized club president Martín Presa's management and the Madrid regional government for years of neglect and inaction regarding stadium maintenance. The players argued the deterioration was avoidable and that warnings from fans were ignored. With the new season approaching, the club is forced to seek temporary home grounds in other cities, including Valladolid, Burgos, and Albacete. The players called for a complete transformation of the club's management style and its relationship with fans, emphasizing the club's century-old working-class heritage and vowing not to let 'the flame of Vallecas go out.'