Fan Protests Force Abandonment of Rayo Vallecano vs Athletic Bilbao in La Liga

The La Liga match between Rayo Vallecano and visiting Athletic Bilbao, scheduled for the eighth round of the season, was abandoned following fan protests against Rayo Vallecano president Martín Presa over his management of the club.

Referee Sánchez Martínez was forced to halt play several times after large numbers of paper planes and rubber balls were thrown onto the pitch at the Estadio de Vallecas. Following consultations with police and after informing both team captains, the referee eventually called off the match permanently as the disturbances escalated, including an incident in which a seat was thrown onto the field.

The protests began in the 13th minute and continued despite attempts to resume play. Paper planes carried messages criticizing Presa’s leadership and calling for his departure, while supporters repeatedly chanted for him to leave the club.

According to Spanish broadcaster Antena 3, a new date for the fixture is expected to be announced, with reports suggesting the rearranged match could be played behind closed doors.