Rayo Vallecano v Athletic Club abandoned after fans throw objects on to pitch

The La Liga match between Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Club was abandoned after repeated protests by home supporters led to objects being thrown on to the pitch.

The referee initially suspended the eighth-round fixture before ordering the players into the dressing rooms as the disturbances continued. The Spanish Football Federation said the decision had been taken after “solid objects” were repeatedly thrown into the playing area.

A statement from the organisation said: “The Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Club match in the eighth round of La Liga has been suspended by the referee after solid objects were repeatedly thrown on to the pitch.”

La Liga added: “We strongly condemn this type of behaviour, which puts safety at risk and makes it impossible for competitions to take place normally.”

The new date for the fixture will be announced soon.

What happened at Vallecas?

The protests began in the 13th minute, when Rayo Vallecano supporters voiced their anger at the club’s administration. Fans displayed a banner reading “Presa, the ball is now in your court” while throwing white handkerchiefs and paper aeroplanes on to the pitch.

Workers spent 10 minutes clearing the items, forcing a temporary stoppage. Play resumed, but further objects were thrown from the stands, prompting the referee to halt the match again and send both teams back to the dressing rooms.

The players later returned to the field and the game restarted. However, the referee eventually abandoned the fixture because the protests continued, following a recommendation from the police.

The match was Rayo Vallecano’s first at Vallecas since the beginning of the season after the stadium was closed by the government.

Rayo had been forced to play their opening home fixtures away from Madrid, specifically at Leganes’ stadium, after the Government of the Community of Madrid temporarily prohibited matches at Vallecas because of the ground’s poor condition.

The ban on hosting games was lifted after about 150 days, allowing Rayo Vallecano to return to Vallecas for the visit of Athletic Club.

The occasion was marked by further protests from the Madrid club’s supporters, with the unrest causing two interruptions to the match. The demonstrations were linked to the continuing dispute over the condition of the stadium, which had prevented Rayo Vallecano from playing at home throughout that period.