Bat flies low – Valencia in deep crisis

During the final game of the championship, fans protested against the boss and a player who was arrested on rape charges. Valencia, a traditional Spanish club, is in deep crisis.

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Valencia Football Club's performance was anything but good. As well as the sporting crisis, the 2001 Champions League finalist (who lost the match to Bayern Munich) and six-time Spanish champion (most recently in 2004) has also faced problems off the pitch. It doesn't look like times are getting better anytime soon.

Too inconsistent over the years

It has been five years since Valencia last participated in the European Cup. At that time, the “White Army” advanced to the top 16 of the Champions League. Since then, the league has never finished in a better position than 9th in the 2022/2023 season, and staying in the league can only be guaranteed on the final matchday of the season.

PAST PHOTOS: Valencia celebrate in Champions LeagueImage source: Associated Press

Last season we could dream about European business for a long time. However, the 2004 UEFA Cup champions have taken just two points from their past seven games. So in the end the European seat clearly fell through.

Sporting misery in this year's championships

The engine will not run this season. Valencia won just one of ten championship matches. On September 21, the team won its first victory since April 15.

The defeat against Las Palmas was particularly painful.Picture: www.imago-images.de

Valencia suffered its next defeat on Monday, against Las Palmas, who had previously been at the bottom of the league. With the 3-2 victory, Las Palmas moved above Valencia in the standings. Valencia have now scored just seven goals in ten games and are bottom of the table.

New employee reported for sexual assault

The one who actually returned to the youth club on loan and scored goals was Rafa Mir. But in September, the Spaniard was arrested on sexual assault charges.

Legal proceedings have now been launched against Mir, with the 27-year-old subsequently suspended by the club. I think this is a big transfer request from coach Ruben Braja, who has known him since his youth days at Valencia. In addition to these charges, Mir is currently dealing with injuries.

Club owner not popular with fans

Club owner Peter Lim has had a long history of disputes with fans. The billionaire Singaporean entrepreneur has been working in Valencia since 2014. When Lim arrived, he was hailed as a savior, but this savior image no longer exists.

Peter Lim is not accepted by Valencia fans.Image source: imago sports photo service

Lin has been accused by fans of simply wanting to make a quick buck at the club. A year and a half ago, fans called on him to immediately sell all his shares, and the “Libertad VCF” association even applied to the state government to declare Valencia Football Club a “cultural asset”, thereby expropriating Lin.

During the game against Las Palmas, there were new protests and riots against the club's management. Fans chanted threatening slogans against Lin and continued to protest outside the VIP area after the game. During the night, a container next to the stadium was set on fire. Several police operations and arrests followed.

After defeating Las Palmas, a flaming vessel.Picture: www.imago-images.de

Couple arrested in Singapore after protests

Peter Lim is still in charge. A new story was added two weeks ago. While on their honeymoon in Singapore, a bride and groom held up a sign that read “Lim Goes Home” in front of Lim's property. They also put a “Lim Out” sticker on his front door.

The action was not without consequences as the image was shared on social media. Shortly before the bride and groom wanted to continue their flight, their passports were confiscated at the airport. The two had to return to the hotel and were placed under house arrest.

The newlyweds are now back in Valencia. The at-large husband, Danny Cuesta, later expressed his views in a number of posts on the social media platform “X”. He thanked all Valencians for their strong support during this period.

Sports venue construction issues

“Estadio Mastela” is one of the most famous stadiums in Spain. But the steep building, more than a century old, is slowly but surely getting older. That's why construction of “Nou Mestalla” began in 2007. But in 15 years, no one has touched a stone. There were plans to sell the old stadium, but due to the real estate crisis no buyer could be found and stadium construction was halted for financial reasons.

Departs from Valencia Football Club Stadium.Picture: www.imago-images.de

This summer, the city approved construction of the stadium to proceed. It remains to be seen whether the timeless construction site will indeed endure, or if the bats will be stuck at the old ballpark for much longer.

First, it is important not to get out of the car. On Sunday, Valencia will face a team in Getafe against a team they have won just one game.