The Community of Madrid has withdrawn Rayo Vallecano's concession for the Vallecas stadium in order to begin urgent renovation work. "There is no way to guarantee that nothing could happen," says the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Mariano de Paco.
The immediate consequence is that Rayo will not be able to start the season in its own stadium. The Community of Madrid has not given specifics but estimates that the renovation work will last "months" and plans to begin "as early as tomorrow."
The regional government is taking this decision to "guarantee people's safety" and explains that the works will address possible fire safety or sanitation issues. "We are going to act with total urgency and try to do it in the shortest possible time," the minister said.
Rayo Vallecano uses the municipal stadium, which it does not own, through a concession granted by the Community of Madrid.
"We carried out an audit of the stadium that produced quite bleak results regarding the stadium's maintenance. That was, as we all know, the club's responsibility and direct obligation, as was regulatory compliance and licensing, and the Community of Madrid has made the decision to temporarily pause the concession so that these renovations can be carried out," Minister Mariano de Paco explained.

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