Ruibal defends the general strike and celebrates the citizen protest

At the Borussia Dortmund stadium, Aitor Ruibal scored Betis's goal that sealed the 2-1 victory in the final round of the Champions League.

Amid a national day of struggle and demand for the general strike, the Betis footballer expressed his support for the protests against rising prices and the increasing cost of living. “I love that people take to the streets to protest for their rights,” Ruibal said in a video released yesterday by the production company Rebeldes. Betis trained this Wednesday ahead of its debut on Thursday against Navalcarnero in the Copa del Rey, and Ruibal returned to train with his teammates after reappearing on October 31. To date, the player from Sallent has accumulated 64 minutes in three official matches.

Social commitment history

At 30 years old, Ruibal had already taken a stand on other causes, such as the fight against homophobia, becoming a rara avis within football. “People tell me that I speak from a very favorable position, because I am a footballer, because I have money, and it’s true. I cannot put myself in the skin of a person who doesn’t have a home, who doesn’t have food,” reflected the Betis captain. He recalled that his mother divorced when he was eight or nine years old and that the family had to rely on his grandfather, an experience that, according to him, he shares with many citizens. His teammate Héctor Bellerín publicly praised his stance on Instagram, writing: “I love you. You can be privileged and be aware of it. You are an example, Aitor Ruibal.”

The photograph accompanying the news is credited to FRIEDEMANN and VOGEL, via the EFE agency. The report was written by Carles Ruipérez Tirado, journalist for La Vanguardia since 2006, football and cycling enthusiast, and regular at Camp Nou.