Rayo Vallecano’s La Liga fixture against Athletic Bilbao was abandoned during the eighth round of the season after supporters staged protests against club president Martín Presa, expressing dissatisfaction with his management and demanding his departure.
The match at Vallecas Stadium was interrupted several times after fans threw large quantities of paper planes and rubber balls onto the pitch. Referee Sánchez Martínez eventually called off the game following consultations with police and after notifying both teams’ captains.
The demonstrations began in the 13th minute and continued despite efforts to restart play. Tensions escalated further when a seat was thrown onto the field, prompting the referee to abandon the fixture over safety concerns.
The paper planes carried messages criticizing Presa’s leadership, while supporters repeatedly chanted for him to leave the club. A new date for the match is expected to be announced, with the possibility of the rescheduled fixture being played behind closed doors, according to Spanish broadcaster Antena 3.
