Rayo Vallecano fined and ordered to close Vallecas stand after fan trouble forces abandonment

Rayo Vallecano have been fined £5,000 and ordered to close part of their stadium after supporter protests forced their LaLiga match against Athletic Bilbao to be abandoned.

The punishment comes amid growing unrest over the club's ownership and the condition of its home ground.

Rayo sanctioned after Athletic Bilbao match was abandoned

The Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee ordered Rayo to close the south stand at Estadio de Vallecas for their next home league fixture against Elche on October 24th.

Saturday's match against Athletic Bilbao was halted after just 13 minutes, with supporters repeatedly throwing paper planes and rubber balls onto the pitch in protest against club owner Raul Martin Presa.

The committee also warned that further incidents of a similar nature could result in the entire stadium being closed. LaLiga has yet to confirm when the abandoned fixture will resume.

The protests reflect a wider dispute between supporters and the club over the state of its facilities.

Rayo's players and coaching staff issued a statement in February claiming that both the training complex and home pitch were unfit for purpose.

Madrid's regional government subsequently suspended the club's use of Vallecas over safety concerns, forcing Rayo to play their first three LaLiga home matches of the season elsewhere.

The club disputed claims that the stadium was unsafe, insisting that technical inspections and two audits had confirmed it met the necessary safety and public-health standards.

Following Saturday's disruption, Rayo said they would identify and punish those responsible, accusing the group behind the protest of conducting a sustained campaign against the club.

Rayo currently sit 13th in LaLiga with eight points and are due to visit Getafe on Monday.

FGG says: Vallecas unrest highlights the need for a resolution

The latest punishment adds another complication for Rayo, with supporters' frustration over the club's facilities now spilling into matches and bringing sporting consequences.

Closing the south stand will affect the atmosphere for the Elche fixture, while the warning of a possible full-stadium closure raises the stakes if further incidents occur.

However, sanctions alone are unlikely to resolve the underlying dispute. Supporters have raised concerns about the condition of the stadium and training facilities, while the club maintains that Vallecas meets the required safety standards.