The goalless draw between Rayo Vallecano and Real Betis at the Vallecas Stadium not only left the La Liga standings at stake, but also an episode that has brought back to the table the persistence of homophobic insults in Spanish stadiums. After the match, Aitor Ruibal, a Betis player, was the target of a shout from the stands that literally asked him to “paint your nails”, a comment that the player himself interpreted as a homophobic insult because of his expression and in light of past events.
Aitor Ruibal’s response
When Ruibal began to talk to La Liga’s microphones after the end of the match, the shout of “paint your nails” was clearly heard from an empty stadium. After a second’s pause, the player was not deterred and responded frankly:
“Ale, homophobe…”
🗣️ Aitor Ruibal’s response after a shout from the stands at Vallecas. #LALIGAEASPORTS #LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/TSG5fs9CwS
– Soccer on Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) December 15, 2025
The player went on to explain that this situation is not isolated to him. “It happens to me in every game,” he admitted, regretting that this type of insult is part of his recurring experience on the pitch. Faced with the journalist who was attending to him, who had said he had not heard the shout, Ruibal tried to play down the drama: “Nothing happens, there is no need to make a fuss,” he said, although his comment and his tone reflected the discomfort that these situations generate in him.
A persistent problem in soccer
What happened in Vallecas is neither isolated nor new for Ruibal. The episode is part of what various sectors have described as a worrying tendency of certain sectors of the fan base to mock or attack players whose expression of masculinity does not fit a traditional and rigid stereotype.
Ruibal’s trajectory includes previous moments in which his way of showing himself has been the object of homophobic criticism. It is no coincidence that in social networks and public sphere comments he has been talked about for details such as his painted nails or his unprejudiced attitude.
The background with Borja Iglesias
A paradigmatic example of how certain sectors of fans react to these expressions is what happened in 2023 with Borja Iglesias, then Ruibal’s teammate at Betis and now at Celta. On that occasion, the two players attended the wedding of a teammate, Camarasa, and generated controversy on social networks. The reason for some tasteless comments was that both Ruibal and Iglesias were carrying handbags.
Faced with the wave of criticism and attacks, Ruibal decided at that moment to raise his voice. He accused what he defined as a “noisy minority” of trying to ridicule him and Iglesias. “We must maintain respect for any person, regardless of their sexual orientation or any other kind,” he said on that occasion, adding, “We must condemn homophobia, which obviously still exists to a greater or lesser extent.”
Iglesias’ situation, meanwhile, was equally significant. When he appeared at a Betis training session with his nails painted, he received messages such as:
