La Liga Match Suspended Hours Before Kick-Off After Players Statement
A La Liga match has been postponed hours before kick-off after a statement was released by the players.
On Saturday afternoon, Rayo Vallecano were scheduled to take on Real Oviedo at the Campo De Futbol De Vallecas.
However, just hours before the original kick-off time of 13:00 (UK Time), the match was postponed after a statement released by Vallecano's players.
As per a report by Spanish news outlet MARCA, it has been stated that there was a lack of medical services and basic materials.
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The players are said to be demanding 'an immediate professionalisation of the structures to protect their health and performance'.
Parts of the statement read: "In the last month, the state of the lawn of the Vallecas Stadium has been clearly deficient, a situation that has been worsening over the weeks and that has been reflected both in previous games and in the situation experienced today, a few hours before playing a new official match. An unstable and impractical playing field that has forced the team to train in the Sports City.
"We consider that the field of play does not meet the minimum conditions required to play a match of the highest category.
"To this situation are added deficiencies in the facilities we use daily, such as the lack of hot water in the showers on certain days, a cleaning that has not always been adequate and obsolete facilities that do not correspond to the standards required by a First Division club for a correct professional performance."
As per Football Espana, the statement was signed by the Vallecano squad, with support from the coaching staff and the Spanish Players' Association.
Meanwhile, Vallecano's opponents, Real Oviedo, also released a statement supporting the players' claims.
It read: "After the official suspension of the Rayo Vallecano - Real Oviedo match, scheduled for today at 2:00 pm at the Vallecas Stadium, Real Oviedo communicates the following:
"The Club expresses its solidarity and empathy with the staff, the coaching staff and the fans of Rayo Vallecano in the face of the situation they are going through, made public yesterday through a statement from the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE).
"Likewise, Real Oviedo recognizes that the competent bodies have prioritized the physical integrity and safety of footballers, indispensable principles that must prevail in any circumstance within the professional sports practice."
However, Real Oviedo did express 'discomfort' over the situation and will look into 'as many regulatory actions as appropriate before the competent bodies, with the aim of safeguarding the result of the meeting and guaranteeing fair competitive conditions'.
Marcus Chan