Rayo Vallecano supporters have demanded a public apology from president Raúl Martín Presa before Friday's match against Elche. The fan groups, the ADRV Platform and the Supporters' Clubs Federation, are also calling for a proportional refund of Butarque season tickets and a freeze on prices for next season as gestures to mend a severely damaged relationship.

The conflict dates back to July 28, when the Community of Madrid withdrew the concession for the Estadio de Vallecas, forcing the team's 'exile' to Butarque. Tensions escalated on October 10, when hundreds of rubber balls and paper planes thrown from the stands caused the suspension of the match against Athletic Club. Since then, coach Beñat San José has acted as the club's main spokesperson amid the negotiations.

Meetings have been held this week between representatives of the fans, the squad, and the board to find a solution. The supporters want any agreement to be public and signed without conditions before the clash with Elche. "We greatly appreciate the effort of the squad and the club's workers to keep fighting to reach an agreement that benefits Rayo's future," said the ADRV Platform and the Supporters' Clubs Federation. They added, "We all want to reach an agreement but we demand from Rayo Vallecano's board the minimum required after all we have suffered over these years, and especially after everything experienced since July 28 of this summer."

For his part, Beñat San José flatly denied rumours of a possible player strike. "I cannot answer that because it is not real. It is not something that has been discussed. We must be careful with what is said," the coach stated.

The team arrives at this home fixture after drawing 1-1 against Getafe last Monday, with a goal from Álvaro García. In the standings, Rayo sit 14th with 9 points, from 2 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses. Their next opponent, Elche, are in 18th place, making the match a key opportunity to pick up points at home.

Striker Sergio Camello, with 7 goals in 9 appearances, will be a key piece in attack. The match will be played at Vallecas this Friday, and beyond the result, the atmosphere in the stadium will be marked by the expectation of a gesture from the board to calm the waters.

This story first appeared at Mundo Deportivo