athletic bilbao - online sports 

SPANISH SOCCER - ATHLETIC FANS PLAN PROTEST

Numerous Athletic Bilbao Football Club supporters clubs are planning a protest against the number of refereeing decisions that have gone against their team in recent weeks and months. Before their team's clash with Valencia on Sunday, fans are to gather at the club's San Mames stadium to vent their anger at "poor officiating".

The latest match to have enraged Bilbao players and fans alike came last weekend at the Vicente Calderon, where attackers Andoni Iraola and Fernando Llorente were both sent tumbling inside the penalty area, only for referee Undiano Mallenco on each occasion to wave play on.

The supporters are keen to make it known they are "well aware and fed up of the glaring refereeing errors that the team is suffering."

With five games of the season remaining, Athletic lie just two points clear of the relegation zone. The fans are hoping the protest will put an end to what they view as unfair officiating at this crucial stage of the campaign.