Rayo Vallecano’s home fixture against Athletic Club was abandoned in the first half after a wave of paper‑plane protests erupted on the pitch. The match, scheduled for Saturday at the Estadio de Vallecas in Madrid, was called off when a group of Rayo supporters hurled paper aircraft and rubber balls onto the field in a demonstration against club president Raúl Martín Presa. The incident forced the referee to order the players off the pitch after less than 30 minutes of play, and the officials ultimately decided to suspend the fixture.
The protest stemmed from long‑standing grievances among Rayo fans who accuse Presa of neglecting the stadium’s maintenance and of mismanaging the club over several years. They fear that the club’s future home ground could be lost if the situation does not improve. The paper planes were part of a broader chant demanding Presa’s resignation, and the police were called to the scene as objects continued to be thrown onto the field. Rayo’s management confirmed that the decision to abandon the match had been made “upon the recommendation of the police” in light of the escalating unrest.
The Estadio de Vallecas has faced a series of safety and infrastructure problems throughout the season. Earlier in the campaign, LaLiga and the Community of Madrid had barred the club from hosting its opening three home games at Leganés’ Estadio Butarque because of fire‑protection deficiencies, electrical installation issues, inadequate emergency lighting, hygiene and sanitation shortcomings, and missing mandatory safety documentation. After extensive repairs and compliance work, the stadium was finally cleared to host the Saturday match against Athletic, marking Rayo’s first game back at home since the problems were addressed.
Despite both teams expressing a desire to resume the game, the situation on the pitch made it impossible to restart. The referee, following the police’s advice, ended the match with the teams on the sidelines. Rayo’s officials have yet to announce a rescheduled date, and LaLiga will likely review the circumstances before determining the next steps. The incident underscores the ongoing tension between the club’s management and its supporters, as well as the broader challenges of maintaining safety standards at the Estadio de Vallecas.