The match between Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Club, which was held at the Vallecas stadium, was interrupted in the 13th minute after a series of protests from the Rayo fans. The fans threw small plastic balls onto the field, forcing the referee to suspend the match for ten minutes until the area was cleaned and the safety of the players was guaranteed.
The origin of the protest dates back to Rayo's visit to Vallecas, where an official match had not been played since May. The fans planned a choreographed demonstration that included whistling, throwing paper airplanes and, ultimately, throwing small plastic balls over the playing area. The stated objective was to generate a message of discontent against the club's administration, although the way of doing so resulted in a risk to the integrity of the players and the continuity of the match.
During the interval, the players Isi and Valentín spoke with the Vallecas fans to express their concern and ask for the action to stop. Despite the intervention, the throwing of the balls continued and the referee, after verifying that the risk had been mitigated, allowed the match to resume. However, when an attempt was made to play again, the protest resumed and the match was forced to be suspended again.
The final result of the match was left on the referees' table, since the organization of the event did not comply with the safety requirements and the competition was declared cancelled. The players of both teams were fired with applause from the fans, but the atmosphere was filled with controversy and tension. The leaders of Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Club have requested an investigation to determine responsibilities and prevent similar incidents from occurring again in future matches.
Rayo Vallecano will have to look for an alternative for their next matchday, while Athletic Club will have to evaluate the disciplinary measures that will be applied to the fans involved. The Spanish Football Federation has announced that it will review safety regulations in stadiums to prevent fan protests from interrupting the development of matches. Both teams' next match will be scheduled on a different date, with the expectation that corrective measures have been implemented and safety ensured.