Rayo Vallecano Fans Force Bilbao Match Abandonment on October 10

Rayo Vallecano's return to its home stadium in Madrid ended in disruption on Saturday, October 10, 2026, when supporters repeatedly threw paper airplanes and other objects onto the field during a La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao. The protests targeted club owner and president Raul Martin Presa, and the referee abandoned the game after consulting police and match officials. The score remained 0-0 when the first interruption occurred in the 13th minute.

Rayo's players moved toward the touchline as objects landed on the pitch, prompting a stadium announcement warning supporters that continued disturbances could bring the match to an end. Play resumed in the 24th minute but stopped again shortly afterward as chants against Presa intensified. Rayo players Oscar Valentin and Isi Palazon spoke with members of Bukaneros, a hard-core supporters' group, near one of the goals where many of the objects were being thrown from the stands.

After another break of approximately 10 minutes, both teams returned to the field to warm up for a restart. A fresh barrage of objects halted proceedings within seconds, leading the referee to consult police, both coaches and team officials before directing the players to leave the pitch. Athletic Bilbao's players applauded their supporters as they departed.

Rayo Vallecano confirmed on its official X account that the referee had definitively abandoned the match on police advice. La Liga subsequently condemned the incidents and said the rescheduled fixture would be announced at a later date. La Liga said, "La Liga strongly condemns this behaviour, which endangers safety and obstructs the normal running of the competition. The new date for the match will be announced soon."

The abandonment overshadowed Rayo's first league fixture at its Vallecas home this season. Local authorities had previously closed the stadium over safety concerns and its deteriorating condition, revoking the club's stadium license and forcing the team to stage home matches in nearby Leganes. According to the Associated Press, most Rayo supporters boycotted those games in protest against the stadium situation. Discontent with Presa, who took over the club in 2011, has also featured prominently in demonstrations at Vallecas, including a friendly the previous week when fans chanted against him and graffiti appeared around the presidential box.

The protests had drawn attention from Madrid regional sports minister Mariano de Paco before kickoff. In a social media post, he appealed for calm and expressed confidence that the club would eventually have a suitable home ground. De Paco said, "Rayo will get the stadium it deserves.

Have faith." The match's new date remains to be announced by La Liga, following the referee's decision to end the contest amid continuing disturbances in the stands.