Valencia's 0-5 Defeat to Barcelona Sparks Fan Protests, With Management, Coach and Players Criticized

According to Marca, large-scale protests broke out at Mestalla after Valencia suffered a 0-5 home defeat to Barcelona. Fans directed their anger at the club's management, head coach Corberán and the players, while the match was also the first time that Kiat-Lim had watched Valencia's league home match in person since becoming club president one and a half years earlier.

After the final whistle, around 2,000 Valencia fans gathered outside the main entrance of Mestalla, chanting slogans targeting the management, coach and players. Some supporters gathered near the presidential box exit, shouting slogans such as “you won't get out” and “go in.” The Spanish National Police then deployed, with officers including mounted police establishing a security area at the scene.

Fans continued chanting “Peter, leave now,” demanding that majority shareholder Peter Lim leave the club, while also calling for Corberán to be dismissed and using terms such as “mercenaries” to express their dissatisfaction with the players. However, as time passed, the number of people gathered gradually decreased due to police efforts to maintain order and the hot weather, and no serious clashes occurred.

It is worth noting that this match was also the first league game at Mestalla attended by Kiat-Lim in his role as Valencia president. Peter Lim's son has served as club president for around one and a half years. Fans had already been organizing protests, and after learning on Sunday morning that Kiat-Lim would attend, messages saying “today is the day” quickly spread on social media.

Valencia fans' dissatisfaction did not only come from the team's poor results. After the first four rounds of the new season, the team had earned just one point, again showing signs that it may have to fight only for survival. The club's summer transfer window activity also drew criticism. Valencia attempted to sign a centre-back and a forward on deadline day, but both deals ultimately failed to materialize. Some fans therefore believe Corberán should also take responsibility for the club's poor sporting management.

Kiat-Lim arrived at Mestalla in an unusual manner that day. He entered the stadium on Valencia's team bus together with football operations CEO Ron Gourlay and general manager Javier Solis. However, after entering the presidential box, he did not deliberately avoid public attention and was seen chatting and laughing with Barcelona president Laporta before the match.

The fans' dissatisfaction quickly erupted after the match began. In the sixth minute, after Yamal scored, whistles were already heard around the stadium. In the 19th minute, around 2,000 supporters from the previously protesting stand entered the stadium, after which widespread protests appeared at Mestalla.

Fans chanted slogans including “Carlos, leave now,” “Corberán resign,” “board resign,” “Lim, get out of Mestalla,” “Peter, leave now,” and “where are the signings?” Every time Corberán stepped out of the technical area, he was met with clear boos, and even the hydration break during the match became an opportunity for fans to voice their dissatisfaction.

The protests initially came mainly from the supporters' stand, but as Valencia showed no ability to respond against Barcelona, many fans in other areas of the stadium also joined in. During the match, some supporters even responded to mistakes by their own players with sarcastic applause.

The 0-5 scoreline ultimately triggered a complete outburst of emotions at the stadium. After the final whistle, deafening boos and protest chants echoed through Mestalla. Some fans left early, while others remained outside the stadium to continue protesting, directing their anger at the Peter Lim family, the club management, Corberán and the first-team players.