Saturday's La Liga fixture between Rayo Vallecano and Elche CF faces a genuine threat of suspension due to organised fan protests against the home club's president, Raúl Martín Presa. The situation, which already caused the interruption of a previous match, could again bring the game to a halt with mass object-throwing and a potential pitch invasion.
Rayo Vallecano supporters plan to throw 5,000 copies of season tickets featuring Presa's face and 8,500 rubber balls as a protest during the match. Also, it has been reported that the local players have agreed not to play the first minute of the game as a gesture backing the demands. This is the first match at Vallecas since the game against Athletic Club on October 10th was suspended for 13 minutes due to similar protests, which led the RFEF Competition Committee to impose a partial stadium closure specifically for this clash against Elche CF.
Rayo manager Beñat San José acknowledged the tense environment. "We are making a great effort so that everything is resolved and returns to normal." he said.
For Elche CF, who sit 18th in the standings with 7 points, this context adds an element of uncertainty to an already tough away trip. The franjiverde team arrives after a goalless draw against Villarreal and is looking to pick up points on the road again to move away from the relegation places. In the last meeting between the two, on April 3rd, Rayo won 1-0. Striker Fer Niño, the top scorer this season with 5 goals, will be one of the offensive hopes for an Elche side that has scored 11 and conceded 17 in the nine matchdays played. The match is scheduled for Saturday at 14:00 and is next on the team's fixtures list.
More detail at La Vanguardia Deportes
