Rayo Vallecano will financially compensate its season ticket holders for the three matches the team played at the Estadio Municipal Butarque in Leganés. The measure, announced on Thursday, involves refunding the proportional value of the season ticket for the games against Alavés, Racing de Santander, and Espanyol, and will be processed before December 31, 2026. This gesture comes as the team strives to improve its 14th place in La Liga, having taken 9 points from their first eight games.
The decision follows a series of meetings between the board, players, coaching staff, and fan representatives. The club has acknowledged the harm caused by the total closure of the Estadio de Vallecas, a situation it described as "totally and absolutely unjustified". In an official statement, Rayo Vallecano said: "lamenta profundamente el perjuicio que ha sufrido nuestra afición, y nuestro Club por el cierre total y absolutamente injustificado de nuestro estadio". The entity also "se reserva las actuaciones que considere necesarias contra los culpables de dicha actuación".
The conflict began on July 28 when the Community of Madrid revoked the stadium's concession, forcing the so-called 'exile' to Butarque. Pressure from fans, who demanded a public apology from president Raúl Martín Presa and compensatory measures, has been key to reaching this agreement. As an additional gesture, the club had already frozen season ticket prices for next season and announced the return of the 'stripe' as the main design element on the jerseys for the 27/28 campaign.
This announcement aims to restore trust during a challenging sporting period. Rayo currently sits 14th in La Liga with 9 points, having recorded two wins, three draws, and three losses from their first eight games. The team has scored 12 goals and conceded 17, for a -5 goal difference. In the title race, they trail leaders Barcelona by 18 points. Their recent form shows one win, three draws, and one loss from the last five matches, a run that includes the 1-1 draw against Getafe on Monday 19 October, with Álvaro García on the scoresheet. Their next fixture is a key home match against 18th-placed Elche on Saturday, October 24. Top scorer Sergio Camello, with 7 goals in 9 appearances, will be a key figure. The squad, which remains unbeaten at Vallecas this season, hopes normality returns to their home ground soon.
This story first appeared at Rayo Vallecano.es
