Rayo Vallecano's La Liga meeting with Athletic Club was abandoned at 0–0 on Saturday after repeated interruptions caused by protests against club president Raúl Martín Presa.
The match at the Estadio de Vallecas was Rayo's first league fixture at their home ground this season following a temporary closure over safety and maintenance concerns. Supporters have blamed Presa for the stadium's condition and have repeatedly called for him to leave.
The protest intensified in the 13th minute, when home fans threw paper aeroplanes and small plastic balls onto the pitch. The referee stopped play while stewards cleared the objects, and the stadium announcer warned supporters against further disruption.
Play resumed after a delay, but objects were thrown onto the field again. Following further interruptions and consultations, the referee abandoned the match with neither side having scored. La Liga condemned the incidents, citing the safety risks and disruption to the competition, and said the fixture would be rescheduled.
The confrontation reflects a wider dispute over the running of Rayo, whose relationship with supporters and players has been strained by the state of its facilities.
Earlier this year, the first-team squad and coaching staff publicly raised concerns about working conditions. Their complaints included an uneven and potentially unsafe playing surface, periods without hot water in the showers, inadequate cleaning and problems with the club's training facilities.
Rayo also had to play their first three home matches of the current league campaign at Leganés' Butarque stadium while issues at Vallecas were addressed. The return to their own ground had therefore carried considerable significance for supporters, many of whom used the occasion to renew their opposition to Presa.
The protests come despite Rayo's recent achievements on the pitch. The Madrid club reached the UEFA Conference League final last season, underlining the contrast between their sporting progress and the ongoing concerns about their infrastructure and management.
Before Saturday's abandoned fixture, Rayo had collected eight points from their opening seven league matches, with two wins, two draws and three defeats. Athletic also entered the match on eight points.
The outcome of the abandoned game will now be dealt with by the relevant football authorities, while the dispute between Rayo's leadership and sections of its fanbase shows little sign of easing.
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