MADRID (AP) — With tributes to pandemic victims and with fans watching from nearby balconies, Spanish soccer resumed Wednesday with the second half of a second-division match that was halted last year after fans called a player a Nazi.
Rayo Vallecano defeated Albacete 1-0 in what was the first match played in Spain since the coronavirus pandemic struck in mid-March.
The second-tier match had already been scheduled to be played without fans as punishment for Rayo after its fans insulted Albacete’s Ukrainian forward Roman Zozulia during its home match on Dec. 15.
Last year’s match was scoreless at halftime when it was halted after Rayo fans used abusive language against Zozulia in chants and in a banner.