European finalists left homeless as stadium is labelled severe safety risk amid hygiene and security concerns

CONFERENCE LEAGUE finalists Rayo Vallecano have been kicked out of their own stadium just weeks before the start of the new season. The Madrid government has deemed the Vallecas ground to be a health risk. Rayo Vallecano’s stadium is not fit to host LaLiga matches Credit: Getty Rubbish has been found in the kitchen and on the concourse Credit: Instagram / elchiringuitotv Piles of trash have been left around the ground Credit: Instagram / elchiringuitotv The local Madrid government deem it a health risk for fans Credit: Unknown Fans could contract Legionnaires’ disease at their 14,700 capacity home, a safety audit concluded. And there was also a chance of fires at the 50-year-old arena due to rogue debris and electrical faults. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! No new venue has been confirmed yet with Rayo’s first home game of the LaLiga campaign in less than a month. They start the season away at Sevilla before hosting Alaves on August 20. Madrid’s regional head of sport, culture and tourism, Mariano ⁠de Paco, said “We’ve tried to get this back on track but we’ve reached a point of no return – the lack of maintenance has been certified. “The club wasn’t complying so authorities had ​to take action. What has happened is intolerable.” Videos and pics taken from within the smallest stadium in the division show leaks and serious water build-up in the stands. The white and red seats are already worn down with insects rife. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS It has the smallest capacity in the division Credit: Instagram / elchiringuitotv The owner cannot be contacted around cleaning it up Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Mould and rubbish can be seen throughout with a shopping trolley and bird poo taking up space outside. Bags of trash have been piled up in the concourse and canteen. The club did not comply with requests from the local authorities to test water quality. Work on cleaning things up could take between two and six months, with president Raul Martin Presa going AWOL. De Paco revealed he has been unable to contact the Rayo chief, who last season was slammed by fans for not looking after facilities. Players and the Spanish FA wrote a joint letter after calling the pitch “unplayable” with no hot waters in the showers and poor hygiene. 12 months ago Rayo could not use their own training centre because of mould. They still reached the Conference League final – where they lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace. And they finished eighth in the league, narrowly outside of the European places again. Rayo had the ninth best home record in the top tier, winning seven of 19 games and drawing 10. Only champions Barcelona lost fewer than their two at home – with Real Madrid and Elche both matching that. In 2018 the stadium was closed down temporarily after it was deemed unsafe by the Community of Madrid. Only in February they were forced to play against Atletico Madrid at Leganes’ stadium instead due to the pitch conditions. There are plans for a new stand and a capacity increase, but fans have no online ticketing website so face long queues. And their season ticket prices went up for the new season – although it came with the caveat that if games couldn’t be played at the Vallecas then fans would be rehoused in similar seats at another ground. Now that clause is set to become an active one. Comment now