Elche Bans Sunflower Seeds Amid Stadium Cleanliness Concerns

Spanish football club Elche has banned the sale and consumption of sunflower seeds, or 'pipas', at their Estadio Martinez Valero due to cleanliness and maintenance concerns. The club cited that discarded shells from the popular snack clog drains, damage stadium infrastructure, increase cleaning costs, and attract pests such as rats and pigeons, ultimately posing health risks to fans. Despite regular cleaning, the accumulation of shells has made it nearly impossible to maintain proper hygiene and has contributed to concrete erosion and waste buildup in hard-to-reach areas. Elche emphasized that this decision is aimed at preserving the stadium's condition and promoting a respectful, clean environment, not at penalizing fans. The move follows a similar measure introduced by Valencia in 2023, which also prohibited sunflower seeds and encouraged responsible disposal to mitigate related problems. Both clubs underscore their commitment to sustainability and stadium upkeep through these bans.