Rayo Vallecano Match Abandoned After Fans Protest Against Owner

Rayo Vallecano’s La Liga match against Athletic Club was abandoned on Saturday after home supporters threw paper planes and small rubber balls onto the pitch in protest against the club’s owner.

The game was Rayo’s first of the season at the Estadio de Vallecas, which had been temporarily closed after an audit highlighted serious health and safety issues, including a risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease.

Rayo fans blame owner and president Raul Martin Presa, who has long been criticised for poor upkeep of facilities and a failure to modernise the club.

In the 13th minute, when Rayo fans usually chant “Presa leave now,” supporters threw paper planes and small rubber balls onto the pitch. The referee stopped play, and the stadium announcer urged fans not to throw objects onto the field while stewards hastily removed the items from the grass.

When play resumed 15 minutes later, supporters in the south stand again threw objects onto the field. The referee then abandoned the match with the game goalless.

After the game, Athletic Club released a statement saying it would contact its fans who had travelled to Madrid for the match to arrange refunds.

Rayo fans held up scarves reading “Presa leave now” in protest against Martin Presa.

Last season, the Spanish football association published a letter written by Rayo’s players that described the Vallecas pitch as “unplayable” and noted a lack of hot water in the showers and inadequate cleaning.

The club began last season unable to use its own training ground because of mould, but still reached the final of the Uefa Conference League, where it lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace.

Supporters regularly have to queue for hours to purchase match tickets at the stadium’s small box office, as Rayo is the only top-flight Spanish club without a ticketing website.

Rayo sit 13th in La Liga with two wins from their opening seven games.