The Madrid regional government has revoked Rayo Vallecano's concession to use Estadio de Vallecas and suspended the licence with immediate effect, effectively barring the club from its home ground indefinitely. The order, issued on 28 July 2026, follows an audit launched in October 2025 that uncovered severe safety, health and maintenance deficiencies, including risks of Legionnaires' disease outbreaks and fires caused by refuse accumulation and electrical faults.
The club failed to submit required documentation despite granted deadlines. Mariano de Paco, Madrid's regional head of sport, said urgent renovation work will begin immediately and could last two to six months, meaning Rayo will miss their season-opening home match against Alaves on 20 August and play at an alternative venue in the interim.
A comprehensive €60 million renovation is planned, expanding capacity from 14,500 to 18,500 seats. The stadium already showed signs of trouble when poor pitch conditions forced a February match against Atletico Madrid to be relocated to Leganes.