Rayo Vallecano have clarified why they did not honor Senegal international M’Baye Niang before their recent match, after the player had been attacked.
The club explained that the decision was not linked to Niang’s status or what he has achieved, but to the timing of the incident and the nature of the occasion. Rayo said holding a tribute at that moment would have been “not appropriate”.
Niang, who has featured for Senegal at international level, was at the center of attention after he was subjected to an attack, which sparked calls for a public gesture of support.
However, Rayo’s position was that the match setting was not the right place to turn the situation into a ceremony, stressing that their stance should not be read as a lack of backing for the player.
The club’s comments came as they sought to reduce the controversy and make clear that the choice not to organize a tribute was a matter of context, rather than any personal or sporting reasons.
