There was a match being played on the Mestalla pitch, but the real struggle was outside the stadium
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 21.05.22. | 20:53
Valencia fans protested fiercely against the club owner
Valencia met Celta in a virtually irrelevant game on the last day of La Liga season at Mestalla, but the loyal Bats' supporters decided not to go into the stadium but to stage a huge protest in the streets surrounding the historic Mestalla.
Valencia fans are making their voices heard OUTSIDE Mestalla 🗣
— La Liga Lowdown 🧡🇪🇸⚽️ (@LaLigaLowdown) May 21, 2022
There are more fans outside the stadium than in it as the protest against the club’s ownership continues.#LLL
🧡🇪🇸⚽️
pic.twitter.com/Pgob3tw4jz
For years, Valencia owner Peter Lim has been a thorn in the fans' side. The last straw was a recent leaked phone conversation in which Lim showed a distinct lack of ambition for the club. More precisely, the owner's resignation to losing star defender Jose Gaya. When you add the ongoing problems in putting forward the project of a brand new stadium, it's understandable why the die-hard fans needed to vent their anger against the Singaporean business magnate who's been in control of their club for eight years now.
Not many fans were in the stands to actually see the match, but most of them were protesting too, holding up signs urging the owner to "go home".
On the pitch, Maximiliano Gomez's first-half strike and a Nestor Araujo own goal gave Valencia a 2-0 victory that puts the white-blacks in the top half of the table. It's not enough for one of the biggest clubs in the country and a two-time Champions League finalists.
The teams are out and we are a few mins from kick off at Mestalla. Pretty clear that A LOT of Valencia fans have stayed away in protest at the club's owners. #ValenciaCelta #ValenciaCF pic.twitter.com/lRNNloOPCl
— LaLiga Expert (@LigaExpert) May 21, 2022
Another season passed and another year wasted from the Valencia fans' point of view. They believe they deserve more ambitious owners who could at least compete with the likes of Sevilla, Real Betis and Villareal for a place in European competitions.
"Lim go home" messages for the owner (©Getty Images)Such a historic club shouldn't have empty stands in any match.
LA LIGA - ROUND 38
Friday
Rayo Vallecano - Levante 2-4 (1-3)
/Garcia 18, Guardiola 61 - Melero 26, 45+1, Marti 44, Coke 76/
Real Madrid - Real Betis 0-0
Saturday
Valencia - Celta Viga 2-0 (1-0)
/Gomez 28, Araujo 60 og/
Sunday
18.30: (2.90) Elche (3.00) Getafe (2.70)
21.00: (3.35) Osasuna (3.35) Mallorca (2.27)
21.00: (1.49) Granada (4.40) Espanyol (7.25)
21.00: (4.40) Alaves (3.50) Cadiz (1.91)
23.00: (2.75) Sociedad (3.10) Atl.Madrid (2.75)
23.00: (2.65) Sevilla (3.10) Ath.Bilbao (2.85)
23.00: (2.14) Barcelona (3.50) Villareal (3.45)
***odds are subject to change
