Rayo Vallecano vs Athletic Club Abandoned After Paper-Plane Protest Against President

Rayo Vallecano's LaLiga meeting with Athletic Club was abandoned after a fan protest brought the game to a standstill at Vallecas. Supporters of the home side began throwing paper planes and small balls onto the pitch in the 13th minute, in a coordinated protest against club president Raúl Martín Presa. When the protest resumed after warnings, referee José María Sánchez Martínez ordered both teams off the field — and the match was never restarted. The incident is the latest flashpoint in the long-running tension between Rayo's fanbase and Presa, whose running of the club has drawn fierce criticism from the Vallecas faithful for years. On this occasion, the frustration boiled over into one of the most unusual protests Spanish football has seen in recent years. Athletic Club's delegation returned to Bilbao after LaLiga confirmed the fixture would not be played later that day or on Sunday, leaving the Basque side with yet another rearranged match in a season already disrupted by postponements. The abandonment raises serious questions for LaLiga's competition committee: a replay behind closed doors, a partial stadium closure at Vallecas, or a heavy fine for the home club are all on the table. Similar fan unrest has rocked other clubs this season — Manchester United supporters made their anger heard during the 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Old Trafford. What is certain is that Rayo's protest has put the spotlight firmly on the relationship between clubs and their supporters in Spain — and Presa's position looks more uncomfortable than ever. #RayoVallecano #AthleticClub #LaLiga #FanProtest #Vallecas #FootballNews #TimeGridFC