Rayo Vallecano v Athletic abandoned after mass paper-plane protest at Vallecas
Rayo Vallecano’s home La Liga fixture against Athletic Club at the Avenida de Albufera on Saturday was abandoned after supporters repeatedly threw thousands of paper planes and other objects onto the pitch in a protest aimed at club president Raúl Martín Presa. The referee halted play and, after multiple stoppages, ended the match having allowed only 13 minutes of football while 24 minutes and 56 seconds elapsed from kick-off to the teams walking off.
Rayo had been away from Vallecas for 147 days and the club had been forced from their ground for five months before returning on Saturday; their last league game there was a victory over Villarreal in May. The club’s recent season included a run to a European final attended by 11,000 fans in Leipzig, the departure of manager Iñigo Pérez and the retirement of captain Óscar Trejo, who was later commemorated in graffiti four storeys high. In late July the Madrid government suspended the agreement allowing Rayo to use the ground for €81,784 a year, a report described the stadium as unsafe and unhealthy, and president Raúl Martín Presa locked the gates while accusing the council of condemning the club to segunda. Rayo’s players and staff had complained about conditions last season, had been forced to train at Getafe and play at Leganés, and the new campaign began with three home fixtures 20km south that drew attendances of 4,280, 4,529 and 3,742 for Alavés, Racing and Espanyol respectively.
Fans organised Saturday’s protest with visible material across the stadium: green stickers reading “SOS Rayo Vallecano”, images of Presa on walls and scarves with Mickey Mouse ears, multicoloured plastic balls handed out from bags, and grey A4 flyers printed with “Today is a day to protest.” The sheets included Ikea-style folding instructions on the back so supporters could make paper planes; at the 13th minute the crowd chanted “Presa, go now!” and launched the planes onto the pitch.
The referee, José María Sánchez Martínez, halted play when the first wave of planes and plastic balls landed on the surface after an Athletic corner; an announcement warned spectators and ballboys cleared objects during an initial pause that lasted eight minutes and 43 seconds. Play resumed with a corner, Pathé Ciss applauding a ballboy, and Yuri Berchiche volleying narrowly wide, but a second influx of planes forced Sánchez Martínez to stop the match again and the players went down the tunnel.
Players returned to the field 38 minutes and 16 seconds after kick-off and the restart was taken 43 minutes after the original kick-off following a change of ball—Emil Audero’s goal-kick served as the new start. More paper planes arrived as the ball was put back into play, prompting Sánchez Martínez to convene a circle on the pitch that included the referee, his assistant, two captains, two managers, a delegate, La Liga’s match director, the security adviser and a police officer.
Beñat San José acted as translator for Athletic coach Edin Terzic during the discussion; Terzic nodded while Álvaro García argued without changing the outcome. At nine minutes to three, 49 minutes and 18 seconds after the game began, Sánchez Martínez signalled towards the tunnel and ended the match having allowed only 13 minutes of play. Players left to applause—Iván Balliu first—and Athletic’s Iñaki Williams and Unai Simón were among the last off, stopping to take photos with ballboys; Williams gave away a shirt and Simón handed over his gloves as they departed to chants of “Athletic! Athletic!” and the stadium singing Vida Pirata.
The club supporters’ association described the protest as “the inevitable consequence of exhaustion, frustration and anger” after “15 years of abandonment of the facilities, chaotic management, a loss of identity and a continuous contempt for employees and fans, as well as the club and its values”, called Presa “dictatorial” and the action “peaceful and democratic, necessary”. Rayo captain Óscar Valentín posted: “This has got worse and worse bit by bit for too long without anyone doing anything to stop it getting this far. We have to listen to and understand the fans’ discontent. We need to find a way to bring everyone together for the common good and the good of Rayo Vallecano above all. That’s the only way we will ever live great moments together again.”
Club officials entered negotiations over when the match would be replayed, with discussions described as likely to take place behind closed doors; Athletic reportedly wanted to return the following morning but that proposal was rejected. Athletic’s bus departed at 4.23pm for Barajas while talks continued over the game’s scheduling and any further consequences.