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Valencia fans protest against owner Lim

Staff WritersAP
Valencia fans protest against owner Peter Lim next to La Mestalla during the match with Celta Vigo.
Camera IconValencia fans protest against owner Peter Lim next to La Mestalla during the match with Celta Vigo. Credit: EPA

Thousands of Valencia fans angry with club owner Peter Lim have protested outside their stadium while their team played the final game of the season.

Fans waved signs saying "Lim Go Home" and shouted for the Singaporean businessman to sell the club. There appeared to be more fans flooding the streets outside La Mestalla than inside watching Valencia beat Celta Vigo 2-0 in LaLiga.

The latest protest against Lim's leadership was called after local sports newspaper Superdeporte published leaked audios of club president Anil Murthy. In the recordings, Murthy appeared to disparage some local residents.

Valencia responded with a statement that said the newspaper was carrying out a "smear campaign" and "illegitimately published recordings that belong to the private sphere, taken out of context, edited and adulterated."

The 68-year-old Lim bought the then-bankrupt Valencia in 2014. At first, fans were thrilled to see a new owner who could revive the club. But they quickly became estranged when Lim started to sell off talented players and seemed content on a middling place in the league standings.

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Saturday's win, secured by a 28th-minute goal from Max Gonzalez and an own goal by Nestor Araujo after 60, left them in ninth place.

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