Grounded: Rayo Vallecano’s paper planes bring club’s crisis into the open

Rayo Vallecano's LaLiga match against Athletic Club was abandoned after just 13 minutes of play due to repeated fan protests at the Vallecas stadium. Supporters threw thousands of paper planes and plastic balls onto the pitch while chanting for club president Raúl Martín Presa to resign. Referee José María Sánchez Martínez halted play twice before officially calling off the fixture under protocol.

The protest marked Rayo's first game back at their home stadium after being forced to play in Leganés due to safety concerns raised by the local government over the stadium's neglected upkeep. Rayo captain Óscar Valentín addressed the unrest on social media, calling the current situation unsustainable and urging club leadership to understand the supporters' long-standing frustration with Presa's management.