Paper planes force Rayo Vallecano to cancel Athletic Bilbao game
In the Spanish district of Vallecas, paper planes and other objects were thrown onto the pitch in the 13th minute on Saturday as Rayo Vallecano fans protested against President Raúl Martín Presa – an unrest that forced the La‑Liga duel with Athletic Bilbao to be abandoned.
We saw how referee José Sánchez Martínez immediately stopped the match, first spoke with the police and then with the coaches Benat San José of Rayo Vallecano and Edin Terzić of Athletic Bilbao. Both clubs were sent to the dressing rooms to calm the situation. The officials remained on the sidelines during the interruption to prevent further disturbances.
After the players returned to the grass, the fans threw objects again, causing the match to be interrupted a second time. When attempting to resume the game, the referee declared that safety could not be guaranteed and ended the duel definitively. The score remained 0 : 0, as no goals had been scored.
Stadium issues and alternative venues
The match was the first league game of the season in the home stadium in the Vallecas district, after the city council had temporarily closed the facility for safety reasons. Previously, Rayo Vallecano had to play three home games at the Butarque Stadium in Leganés because the stadium licence had been withdrawn due to serious deficiencies. Many Rayo fans boycotted these alternative fixtures and demanded better conditions. The return to Vallecas was therefore of great importance for the club.
Tension erupts as Rayo fans force LaLiga match halt at Vallecas
The next home fixture for Rayo Vallecano in Vallecas is scheduled for 24 October against Elche. This date offers the club a chance to repair the relationship with its own supporters.
Reasons for protest and fan actions
The action was directed against the club management of President Raúl Martín Presa, who is seen by supporters as responsible for the poor conditions in the stadium and training facilities. Before kickoff the fans distributed leaflets and started a chant of protest in the first minute. The criticism of the training facilities also grew louder, as they were described as outdated and unsafe.
During the protest not only paper planes were thrown, but also stress balls, sandwiches and even seats onto the pitch. Cleaning staff were called, and some Rayo players helped collect the fallen objects. The stadium's sound system eventually asked the spectators to stop throwing objects before the final decision was made.
Rayo Vallecano, regarded as a finalist of the Conference League, now stands alongside Athletic Bilbao, whose coach Edin Terzić – who was most recently at Borussia Dortmund – has been overseeing the club since this season. Both clubs now have to resolve the consequences of the incident with the Spanish authorities.