Rayo-Bilbao La Liga Match Abandoned After Fan Protests

Rayo Vallecano's La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao at Estadio de Vallecas on Oct. 10, 2026 was abandoned goalless after home fans repeatedly threw paper airplanes, rubber or plastic balls and other objects onto the pitch. Referee José María Sánchez Martínez halted play around the 13th minute as Athletic prepared a corner. Stewards cleared the surface and play resumed briefly before further throwing led police to recommend calling the game off. Supporters had been given cards with paper-airplane instructions before entry and displayed a banner reading 'Presa, la pelota está en tu tejado,' directed at club president Raúl Martín Presa. The fixture was Rayo's first league match back at Vallecas after safety deficiencies forced its first three home games to Leganés. OneFootball reported sandwiches and a seat among the objects and said fans had earlier broken into the stadium to vandalize it; other accounts cited paper planes and balls. A wire summary said fans blame Presa for poor management and deteriorating facilities while he has disputed responsibility for the stadium's problems. La Liga confirmed the rematch will not be Oct. 11. Athletic captain Iñaki Williams, 32, started; he holds 516 official appearances, fifth on the club list. Rayo finished eighth in 2025/26 and sat 13th amid an off-field crisis ongoing since July 2026.