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Rayo Vallecano’s LaLiga clash with Athletic Bilbao was abandoned after repeated stoppages caused by supporters throwing paper planes, rubber balls and other objects onto the pitch.
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The protest targeted club president Raúl Martín Presa, amid long-running anger over his leadership and concerns about the safety and condition of the Estadio de Vallecas.
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Referee José María Sánchez Martínez abandoned the fixture after further objects were thrown following attempts to resume play, with police unable to guarantee the necessary safety conditions.
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LaLiga condemned the incidents and said a new date and kick-off time would be announced for the postponed match.
October 10, (THEWILL) – Rayo Vallecano’s return to their home stadium ended in controversy on Saturday after their LaLiga match against Athletic Bilbao was abandoned following repeated interruptions caused by supporters protesting against club president Raúl Martín Presa.
The Matchday Eight fixture at the Estadio de Vallecas was halted in the 13th minute, with the score still goalless, as home fans threw paper planes and small rubber balls onto the pitch during an Athletic corner. The demonstration targeted Presa, whose leadership has faced sustained opposition from parts of the club’s fanbase.
Referee José María Sánchez Martínez initially stopped the game to allow stadium workers to clear the objects and restore order. After a period of interruption, the players returned to the pitch and play resumed, but the situation quickly deteriorated when supporters again threw objects onto the field.
The second interruption forced both teams to return to the dressing rooms while officials assessed whether the match could safely continue. Despite efforts to calm the situation and resume the fixture, further objects were thrown after the players returned, prompting Sánchez Martínez to abandon the game.
🚫 VERGONZOSO LO OCURRIDO EN VALLECAS
✈ La afición del Rayo Vallecano tira aviones de papel al campo.
🧽 Saben que desde el club rayista NO tiene servicios de limpieza y así no podrá continuar el partido para ver al Athletic ganar
#LALIGA #RayoAthletic https://t.co/ZstmbwYwIh
— Cipote FM (@CipoteFM) October 10, 2026
Protest Against Rayo President Disrupts Match
The demonstration reflected a wider dispute between Rayo supporters and Presa, whose management of the club has been a source of tension for years. Fans have raised concerns about the condition of the stadium, the club’s administration and the disruption caused by the temporary closure of Vallecas earlier in the season.
Saturday’s fixture was Rayo’s first LaLiga home match at the stadium this campaign after their opening three home games were moved to Leganés following safety concerns identified during an audit. The relocation frustrated supporters, who blamed the club’s leadership for the situation and the disruption to their matchday experience.
Before kick-off, sections of the home crowd jeered Presa and chanted for him to leave. The throwing of objects began around the 13th minute, coinciding with a familiar protest chant directed at the president.
The supporters’ association defended the demonstration as a legitimate expression of dissatisfaction, arguing that concerns about the stadium’s safety and maintenance had persisted for years. However, the repeated throwing of objects turned the protest into a serious disruption that prevented the fixture from continuing.
The incident also underscored the increasingly strained relationship between Rayo’s leadership and sections of its supporters, with the club’s return to Vallecas overshadowed by the dispute.
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Referee Abandons Game After Safety Concerns
According to the referee’s report published by Spanish newspaper AS, police had warned before kick-off that incidents were possible. Following the repeated interruptions, the National Police security coordinator informed match officials that the necessary safety conditions could no longer be guaranteed.
The report stated that no objects struck players, referees or other individuals. Nevertheless, the continued disruption left officials unable to ensure the match could proceed safely.
The referee’s decision followed multiple attempts to restart the game, with stadium staff repeatedly clearing the playing surface. The second resumption proved short-lived, as more objects were thrown onto the pitch almost immediately.
The match was ultimately abandoned before half-time, leaving both teams without a completed result. The decision prioritised safety after efforts to restore order failed.
LaLiga Condemns Incidents
LaLiga condemned the behaviour, warning that throwing objects onto the pitch endangered safety and made the normal conduct of the competition impossible.
The league said a new date and kick-off time for the fixture would be announced, leaving the teams awaiting clarification on when the remaining match action would take place.
The abandonment also raises the possibility of disciplinary consequences, although any sanctions would depend on decisions by the relevant football authorities. No final disciplinary outcome had been announced at the time of reporting.
For Athletic Bilbao, the interruption brought an abrupt end to a contest that had barely begun. Rayo, meanwhile, saw their return to their home ground overshadowed by a protest that highlighted the depth of the conflict between supporters and the club’s leadership.
The episode leaves Rayo facing renewed scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding their stadium and the relationship with their fans. While supporters can voice their concerns about club management, the repeated throwing of objects ultimately prevented the match from being completed.
With LaLiga expected to announce a new date for the fixture, attention will turn to the league’s response and whether the events at Vallecas lead to further action against the club.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
