Turf War: LaLiga and RFEF clash over Rayo-Oviedo postponement powers
LaLiga asserts its legal authority over match suspensions after Rayo Vallecano vs Real Oviedo postponement, while Oviedo demands the points be awarded to them.
The latest power struggle between LaLiga and the Spanish FA has kicked off after Saturday’s postponed clash between Rayo Vallecano and Real Oviedo, with both organizations at loggerheads over who has the final say on match cancellations.
Pitch Perfect Storm
The fixture, part of matchday 23 in LaLiga EA Sports, was called off due to the shocking state of Vallecas’ playing surface, which LaLiga deemed unsafe for both players and spectators. What followed was nothing short of a proper barney between all parties involved.
Real Oviedo, absolutely fuming about the late postponement, have gone on the offensive by formally requesting the Spanish FA (RFEF) award them the three points, claiming both LaLiga and Rayo Vallecano failed to comply with federation regulations. Bit cheeky that, but you can’t blame them for trying.
Legal Squabbles
In response, LaLiga has come out swinging, issuing a statement that basically says: “This is our manor, not yours.” They’ve insisted that organizing professional competitions - including decisions on dates, times, suspensions and rescheduling of matches - legally falls under their jurisdiction as the competition organizers.
Javier Tebas’ organization pointed to a December ruling from Spain’s National Court that:
- Cancelled several sections of Article 56 in the RFEF Statutes
- Stripped the RFEF of powers to suspend or modify matches
- Confirmed LaLiga’s authority over its own competitions
Regulatory Rumble
LaLiga emphasized that any issues must be resolved according to “applicable regulations, guaranteeing legal security, competitive equality and compliance with legal obligations” regarding the safety of participants and the public.
Meanwhile, Oviedo didn’t mince their words, describing the situation as “shameful” and promising to pursue all available regulatory actions. Talk about a right old Barney Rubble!
The timing couldn’t be worse for Spanish football, with this territorial dispute highlighting yet another chapter in the ongoing beef between LaLiga and the Federation. Who’ll come out on top in this battle for control remains to be seen, but one thing’s for certain - the lawyers will be laughing all the way to the bank.