In the tight confines of Vallecas, Madrid, Rayo Vallecano’s LaLiga meeting with Athletic Bilbao was abandoned after supporters turned a planned protest against the club’s board into repeated stoppages on the pitch.
The news from the club
The eighth-round fixture was halted early in the first half on Saturday, with the score still 0-0, after objects were thrown from the stands onto the playing surface.
Rayo supporters had announced their intention to demonstrate before kick-off, distributing leaflets among fans outside and inside the stadium. The protest began with whistles in the opening minute, before paper aeroplanes and small paper balls were thrown towards the field in the 13th minute as a corner was about to be taken.
Referee José María Sánchez Martínez stopped play for the first time while stadium staff cleared the pitch. Rayo players also helped gather the paper from the grass, and the match restarted after a delay of about 10 minutes.
The interruption did not bring an end to the demonstration. More objects soon landed on the field, including, as reported in Spain, sandwiches and seats. The stadium public-address system appealed to spectators to stop throwing items, and there was another effort to resume the match.
When the protest continued, Sánchez Martínez stopped the game for a third time. He brought together the captains, both coaching staffs and police officials before the decision was made to suspend the contest. The players then returned to their dressing rooms.
Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Bilbao left Vallecas without a result, the match having remained goalless when it was called off.
