Valencia Fans Plot Dramatic 19-Minute Protest in Crucial Real Madrid Clash
Valencia's Bold 19-Minute Stadium Protest: Fans Target Peter Lim During Real Madrid Match
Things aren’t looking great for Valencia right now. After just 17 games in La Liga this season, the team sits dangerously in 19th place, with a measly 12 points. That’s just two wins to show for the entire first half of the campaign—and it’s left supporters feeling more anxious and frustrated than ever. The pressure cooker atmosphere at the beloved Mestalla has now sparked a bold move: a bizarre protest timed right at the start of their most high-profile fixture, a home match against Real Madrid on January 3, 2025.
The match itself was supposed to happen back in November 2024, but natural disasters in the Valencia region forced a postponement. Now, with their club on the brink and a new manager, Carlos Corberan, taking charge for the first time in La Liga, emotions are running at full tilt. But what’s driving this protest isn’t just football—it’s politics, management, and years of pent-up anger.
Fans Versus Owner: Why the Mestalla Will Appear Empty (at First)
This isn’t just about a run of poor results. The fan group Libertad VCF is leading the charge, aiming their frustration straight at Singaporean owner Peter Lim. For years, fans have blamed Lim for Valencia’s slow and steady decline—on the pitch, in the club’s finances, and in its connection to the community. Their banners call for ‘Lim go home’, and emotions are raw. Initially, Libertad VCF wanted a full boycott of the Real Madrid match. But they’ve switched tactics to make sure their message hits home for anyone watching, especially those on TV. Their new plan: keep supporters outside the stadium until the 19th minute. When cameras pan over Mestalla in those early moments, they’ll find it almost empty—a dramatic, defiant sight that’s impossible to ignore.
Jose Perez, the leader of Libertad VCF, made it clear—this protest is deeper than football. He told Mundo Deportivo that getting Lim out is worth the risk of even more misery on the pitch, including the real threat of relegation, something Valencia hasn’t experienced since 1986. For many in Valencia, the club’s soul is at stake.
When the 19-minute mark hits, fans plan to stream into the stands and fill the stadium, holding up yellow banners as another stinging visual message to the cameras and the watching world: ‘Lim go home’. Until then, the silence and empty seats will do the talking.
As the players come out for warm-ups, they’ll see an oddly quiet Mestalla, a stadium famous for its intensity and passion. It’s a sight that could unnerve even Real Madrid’s seasoned stars—and it will certainly grab the attention of club executives, league officials, and sponsors, too.
No matter how things go on the pitch during Carlos Corberan’s first game in charge, the story of the night will play out in the stands. Valencia fans are showing they’re not just along for the ride—they’re fighting to take their club back, however they can, and they don’t mind making history with one of the most unique protests La Liga has ever seen.