Speaking to MARCA, Presa apologised repeatedly for what he described as an administrative error after the club failed to submit requested documentation to the Community of Madrid on time, a lapse that led the regional authority to open proceedings to revoke Rayo's concession to use the stadium, with just 15 days to go until the club's LaLiga opener at home to Alaves.
"We have had an administrative error, a human error. I wasn't aware of it," Presa said, stressing there was "no bad faith, no intention to hide anything." He was adamant the concession has not been withdrawn, only that an extinction process has begun, one the club intends to challenge.
The Rayo Vallecano president rejected an audit report from the regional government alleging serious safety and hygiene failings at the ground, calling the inspection "very unfortunate" and based on a "very basic scheme" carried out by an unidentified visitor shown around by the stadium's caretaker rather than a club official.
He said an independently commissioned notarial report from last week, complete with photographs of the stadium and its bathrooms, demonstrates the ground "is sanitary and clean," pointing to fire safety, evacuation plans and emergency lighting all being up to date.
"The stadium is safe. Since 2011, when I became president, more than 300 matches have been played at the Estadio de Vallecas as the home side and there has never been a security incident," he said, while acknowledging the club's long-standing struggle with a "pigeon overpopulation" problem that leaves the ground looking untidy between cleans.
Presa said Rayo have spent millions on maintenance in recent years, going from LaLiga's most non-compliant stadium under the league's facility regulations two years ago to zero breaches today, including a renovated press room and upgraded dressing rooms.
He warned that playing away from Vallecas would represent a serious sporting and financial risk, potentially leaving Rayo fighting relegation, and confirmed the club has lined up Burgos as a fallback venue after Atletico Madrid's Metropolitano and Leganes' stadium proved unworkable due to scheduling conflicts, with Getafe's Coliseum also explored under a reciprocal arrangement.
The president also revealed the personal toll of the saga, describing graffiti at the stadium, death-threat banners at a family business, and a funeral wreath sent to his 86-year-old mother, who has a serious heart condition.
"That cannot be tolerated," he said, insisting he has no intention of selling the club in response to intimidation and would rather rely on the police and the justice system. Presa said Monday's meeting with the Community of Madrid was "very positive," with both sides now sharing the same objective: getting Rayo playing at Vallecas as soon as possible, ideally from the very first home game of the season.
Presa also touched on the club's finances, confirming Rayo stand to receive a share of the roughly €40m in combined fees from the sales of Pathe Ciss, Pep Chavarria and Randy Nteka Mendy, though he stressed the figures are gross rather than net once tax and squad reinvestment are accounted for.
He pushed back on the idea Rayo are forced to sell to balance the books like many LaLiga clubs, pointing to a debt of roughly €100m when he took charge in 2011 against what he called one of the best solvency ratios in Spanish football today.