Valencia Club de Fútbol fans are organizing a major protest against the club's ownership ahead of this weekend's match against FC Barcelona. Several Valencianist groups have called for a demonstration near Mestalla stadium and a symbolic delayed entry into the ground, as reported by Mundo Deportivo on Friday.
The team approaches this fixture in a precarious sporting situation, sitting 18th in La Liga with just one point from three games, following a draw and two losses. They have scored only one goal while conceding four, for a -3 goal difference. This poor on-field start, combined with dissatisfaction over transfer policy, has fueled the discontent that will culminate in the protest.
What does the fan protest involve?
The mobilization is organized by groups including La Curva Nord, Libertad VCF, and the Col·lectiu de Penyes Valencianistes. The main action will take place before kick-off, with a gathering in the vicinity of Mestalla. Fans also plan a highly symbolic gesture: refusing to enter the stadium until the 19th minute of the match. This minute represents the club's founding year of 1919, aiming to show the defense of Valencia's historical essence.
The stated goal is to show outright rejection of the current ownership's management. In a statement, the Col·lectiu de Penyes Valencianistes demanded "the end of arbitrary decisions, the non-existent or insufficient reinforcements that do not respond to the greatness of this shirt." The protest won't be limited to outside the ground, as members have been urged to direct their noise towards the presidential box once inside, "roaring as in a Champions League semi-final."
What has the Valencia leadership said?
The club's hierarchy has responded with a message of apparent normality. Ron Gourley, the football CEO, recently stated that "he would not resign and that the club is progressing 'in a good direction'." These comments have been met with skepticism and anger by critical groups. Libertad VCF labeled them as involving "lies, false security, and arrogance."
The tension will be heightened by the presence in the box of Kiat Lim, son of owner Peter Lim, who arrived in Valencia and will attend his first official match as a spectator. However, the customary executive lunch before the match is not scheduled due to logistics. The collectives accuse the ownership of planning an "urban and financial coup" and of having been "devouring the club's entrails for eleven years."
How does the crisis affect sporting performance?
The protest unfolds against the backdrop of a tough start to the season. The team is on a negative run of form (LLD) and finds itself eight points behind the leaders, who happen to be FC Barcelona. The squad also faces this match with several key absences. Players currently sidelined include Sergi Canós, Jesús Copete, Jaïro De Haas, Dimitri Foulquier, Diego López, and Luis Rioja, limiting the manager's options. Fans can check the full status of the squad and injuries on our pages.
The feeling among a significant portion of the fanbase is that the club has become a "mere shows for foreign interests unrelated to sporting performance," as denounced by the supporters' group. This disconnect between the ownership and the fanbase promises to cast a shadow of protest over an already difficult match, with Valencia in need of points to climb out of the relegation places.
What's next for Valencia after Barcelona?
Regardless of Sunday's result, the schedule marches on. The team must travel to face Sevilla in their next league fixture on September 11th. Sevilla, currently in eighth place, will be a demanding opponent at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. Supporters can follow the evolution of the standings and the rest of the schedule in our fixtures section. The match against Barça will thus be another chapter in a season that looks set to be long and complicated, both on and off the pitch.
