The definitive suspension of Rayo Vallecano-Athletic Club this Saturday, October 10, caused by the repeated throwing of objects onto the field during protests against the Rayo president, Raúl Martín Presa, has several precedents in Spanish football. Although the incidents present important differences, the resolutions adopted on other occasions allow us to know the possible consequences for the Madrid club.
The referee José María Sánchez Martínez decided to suspend the match after several attempts to resume it and after paper airplanes, plastic balls, and other objects continued to fall onto the grass. The match was definitively interrupted after the reiteration of the incidents, despite the players' attempts to convince the fans to stop the throwing.
The precedents show that the suspension of a match does not necessarily imply its loss by the home team. In several cases, the sports authorities have ordered the remaining minutes to be played on another date, while imposing financial fines or partial or total closures of the stadiums.
Atlético de Madrid-Real Madrid (2024)
One of the most recent precedents occurred on September 29, 2024, during the Madrid derby held at the Metropolitano. The match had to be stopped in the 64th minute after several fans threw objects towards the area where Real Madrid's goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, was located.
The referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer activated the corresponding protocol and sent the players to the locker rooms. The match resumed that same night, after a break of around twenty minutes, and ended in a one-all draw.
The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation initially imposed on Atlético three matches of partial stadium closure and a fine of 45,000 euros. However, the Appeals Committee later reduced the sanction to one match of partial closure of the lower stand of the south end and a fine of 3,000 euros.
The closure sanction was applied in the match against Leganés on October 20. Atlético did not lose the derby due to the incidents and the result obtained on the field of play was maintained.
Betis-Sevilla (2022)
On January 15, 2022, the Seville derby in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey was suspended in the 39th minute after a PVC bar thrown from the stands hit the head of Sevilla player Joan Jordán.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoechea decided to suspend the match when the score was tied at one. The RFEF agreed that the remaining minutes would be played the next day, at the Benito Villamarín and behind closed doors.
Betis ultimately won 2-1 and advanced to the next round, but the resumption of the match did not prevent disciplinary consequences.
The Competition Committee imposed on the verdiblanco club two matches of total closure of the Benito Villamarín due to the incidents. The case constitutes one of the clearest examples of how a definitive suspension can end with the resumption of the match and an independent sanction for the club responsible for the security of the venue.
Castellón-Valencia (2003)
Another precedent dates back to October 7, 2003, during a Copa del Rey match between Castellón and Valencia.
Referee Téllez Sánchez suspended the match in the 82nd minute, with a tie at one, after being hit by a mobile phone battery thrown from the stands, after signaling a penalty in favor of Valencia.
The Competition Committee agreed that the remaining time would be played in the same stadium and behind closed doors, in addition to imposing four matches of closure on the Castellón field.
The decision allowed the match to be completed without automatically turning the suspension into an administrative loss, but punished the home club for the incidents recorded in the stands.
Valencia-Deportivo (2006)
On January 25, 2006, the second leg of the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey between Valencia and Deportivo de La Coruña was suspended in the 44th minute after a coin thrown from the stands hit the face of assistant referee Vicente Egido, causing him an injury.
The match resumed on February 1 at Mestalla, behind closed doors, and ended in a tie at one, a result that allowed Deportivo to qualify for the semifinals.
The Competition Committee considered the incidents serious, but not very serious, and decided to impose on Valencia a fine of 6,000 euros and a warning of closure, without ordering the closure of the stadium for subsequent matches.
This precedent demonstrates that a definitive suspension for an aggression from the stands does not necessarily lead to the closure of the sports venue.
Rayo-Albacete (2019)
Rayo Vallecano already experienced a similar situation on December 15, 2019, when their match against Albacete, corresponding to the Second Division, was suspended at halftime due to the insults and chants directed from a part of the stands against the Ukrainian forward Roman Zozulia, for having suggested in the past his support for the neo-Nazi cause.
Referee José Antonio López Toca decided to definitively suspend the match, which was tied at zero, after the insults continued despite warnings. The Competition Committee sanctioned Rayo with a fine of 18,000 euros and the partial closure of Vallecas for two matches, a resolution subsequently confirmed by Appeals.
The match was resumed 178 days later, on June 10, 2020, behind closed doors, to play the remaining 45 minutes. Rayo ended up winning 1-0, so the suspension did not result in the administrative loss of the match.
To the sporting and disciplinary consequences was later added another economic sanction. In March 2026, the National Court confirmed a fine of 60,001 euros related to deficiencies in security measures during that match.
What could happen now with Rayo-Athletic
The examined precedents show that the RFEF has opted on different occasions to allow the continuation of suspended matches, even when the incidents had caused injuries to players or referees. However, the resumption of the match does not prevent the local club from being sanctioned.
In the case of Rayo-Athletic, the competent bodies must assess the reiteration of the throws, the objects thrown, and the circumstances that prevented the continuation of play.
The consequences could include a financial fine, the partial or total closure of Vallecas, and the playing of the pending minutes behind closed doors. None of these measures are confirmed at the moment and the resolution will depend on the disciplinary file and the decision regarding the continuation of the match.