Real Betis Fans: The Green-and-White Passion of Seville

Real Betis supporters, known as Béticos or verdiblancos (the green-and-white), are legendary for their loyalty and joy in following the team. Founded in 1907, Betis has a century-plus history.

They’ve won La Liga once (in 1935) and three Copa del Rey trophies, but as the famous Betis motto says, their devotion comes “¡Viva el Betis, aunque pierda!”, “Long live Betis even if they lose.”

Today, Betis ranks 9th in LaLiga’s all-time history with 2,320 points in 59 seasons, and fans celebrate every success, big or small, with relish.

A Family Tradition of Support

Real Betis fandom is often a family affair. As one club campaign slogan (painted in the stadium) proclaims: “De padres a hijos, de abuelos a nietos. Una pasión llamada Betis”, “From parents to children, from grandparents to grandchildren: a passion called Betis”.

Many Betis fans grew up singing the club anthem with their families and passing on scarves and jerseys to the next generation. In fact, one of the team’s oldest season-ticket holders appears in a recent Betis ad alongside his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, illustrating how support is literally handed down at Betis.

This intergenerational pride means you often see entire families in green-and-white, all cheering together in the stands or around the TV, a shared identity that stretches back to the club’s earliest days.

Singing and Chants: Unity in the Stands

On match days, Benito Villamarín becomes a sea of green and white. Fans shoulder to shoulder raise scarves and unfurl huge banners, then break into song together. Betis’ official hymn and various anthems (“¡Betis, Betis, Betis!”) reverberate through the stadium as one unified voice.

This collective singing and choreographed tifos create a powerful sense of community. As one observer put it of Seville’s football culture, “Green and red are the colors of passion in this city. Verdiblancos or Rojiblancos…Welcome to Sevilla, where football is even more important than religion.”

In other words, for Béticos, the matchday ritual of singing – under the motto “¡Viva el Betis, aunque pierda!”, is almost a secular religion. It embodies the club’s motto and “unsinkable morale”.

• Matchday Anthem: Before kickoff (and often at away games), fans belt out the club’s himno in unison, waving scarves and cards. This ritual seals the bond among Betis fans and fires up the team.
   
• Green Marches: Béticos even take their passion on the road. When following Betis to away matches, supporters have been known to organize “green marches”, parading in large groups through the opponent’s city to the stadium. These processions, fans decked out in Verdiblanco, show that no distance dampens their commitment.
   
• Family Chants: It’s common to hear three or four generations singing together. Even club veterans note how Betis’ “pride of belonging” is deeply rooted in family and local tradition.

Traditions of Generosity and Unity

The Betis fan community extends beyond cheering into acts of charity and solidarity. Each December, Betis hosts a “lluvia de peluches” (teddy-bear shower) at half-time. Tens of thousands of stuffed toys are flung from the stands onto the pitch, to be collected and donated to needy children.

For example, in 2024, a record 20,000 toys were gathered at Benito Villamarín during a Christmas home game. Fans and club volunteers then distribute them through charities across Andalusia and even abroad. It’s become a beloved holiday spectacle, a “magical generosity” that underlines the caring side of the Betis family.

These community traditions, singing together, the teddy-bear toss, and pre-game marches, all reinforce a strong local identity. In Seville, the two fan bases coexist everywhere.

El Gran Derbi: Rivalry and Passion

The Seville derby, El Gran Derbi, is the highlight (and greatest test) of Betis’ fan culture. The first official match between Real Betis and Sevilla FC was in 1915, shortly after Betis’ founding, and legend says Sevillanos ridiculed the new “Betis” name as a kind of provocation.

Betis won 1-0, and player Alberto Henke was paraded through the city in triumph. Ever since, derbies have been colossal events. On derby days, Seville buzzes with verdes and rojiblancos. Bars, shops, and homes overflow with Betis flags and jerseys. The atmosphere is electric (if tense), with thousands of fans packing Benito Villamarín (and Nervión).

Icons and Memorable Moments

Betis supporters take pride in the heroes who embody their ethos. Club legend Joaquín, Betis’ all-time most-capped player, is adored not only for his skill but for living the fans’ values of “art, kindness, enthusiasm, and passion” wherever he goes. Generations grew up cheering players like Rafael Gordillo and Luis del Sol, whose flair and spirit mirrored Betis' culture.

Even off the pitch, fan enthusiasm has created folklore. When Betis signed Brazilian Denilson for a then-world-record $35 million in 1998, so many fans came out to greet him that authorities feared for his safety, 25,000 people mobbed his presentation at Seville’s airport. Stories like this show how Betis fans celebrate big moments with communal joy.

In recent memory, whenever Betis reaches a European final or wins a trophy, the fans turn out en masse. For instance, when Betis secured its first-ever European final (the 2025 Conference League), thousands of supporters gathered to welcome the team home, chanting and cheering with pride despite falling just short in the final.

A Century-Plus of History and Heart

Above all, Betis supporters’ passion is inseparable from the club’s history. Founded in 1907 (as Sevilla Balompié) and renamed Real Betis Balompié in 1914 with the royal patronage, the club has ridden a roller-coaster of titles, relegations, and comebacks.

Through it all, the green-and-white fans have remained a constant. Their anthem and motto speak of enduring love beyond results; their traditions, from peñas (fan clubs) across the country to hundreds of away trips, demonstrate an unshakeable community.

Today, Betis enjoys stability in La Liga, but the beticismo (fan spirit) was forged in adversity and joy alike. As one longtime supporter put it, “The best moment to be part of Betis is always”, whether through victory dances after small wins, collective tears after losses, or thousands of toys raining down on the pitch for a child in need, Betis fans live their motto every day.

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