Now THIS is allyship

Spanish soccer star Aitor Ruibal continues to kick homophobia in the teeth.

A captain for Real Betis, which plays in La Liga, Spain’s top soccer league, Ruibal is an outspoken ally. With dyed pink hair and lots of flair, the forward never hesitates to express himself.

He believes that gay athletes should receive the same opportunity. In a recent interview with El Pais, a major Spanish-language newspaper, Ruibal highlighted his campaign denouncing homophobia.

“I’m very sorry that a [player] can’t say he’s gay freely,” he said. “It doesn’t matter the orientation of a person when it comes to developing a profession like soccer. It’s a partner, who trains like you, who works like you and who plays soccer like you.”

Ruibal’s inclusive words speak to the idea that sports, and soccer in particular, are a melting pot. The most popular sport in the world, soccer is played on every continent. Yet, the men’s game lacks queer representation.

While women’s leagues are filled with out gay stars, there are few at the pro level for men. There have only been 29 in history, according to Outsports.

Australia’s first out gay men’s player, Josh Cavallo, alleged last month that homophobia led to his release.

As a captain, Ruibal plays a role in setting the culture around his team. He says the best way to foster acceptance is through education, echoing calls from out athletes and advocates alike.

“The main and best [tool] to banish these taboos, and fight against homophobia is education,” he added. “That is where we must all focus so that there is more freedom when defining your orientation and eliminating homophobic behavior.”

Ruibal spoke out against racial taunts as well.

Ruibal’s response to gay taunts

Though Ruibal doesn’t identify as gay–he has a wife and beautiful baby at home–he knows what it’s like to be harassed for straying from the norm. Photos of Ruibal and another La Liga star, Borja Iglesias, wearing nail polish to a wedding once went viral. The pair also posed with their handbags.

In response, Ruibal didn’t desperately defend his heterosexuality, like other famous male athletes in similar situations. Instead, he emphasized the importance of respecting queer people.

“After the frustrated attempts by a noisy minority to ridicule my colleague Borja Iglesias and me, in reference to our clothing as well as its supposed link to our orientation, I just want to underline the importance of maintaining respect for any person, regardless of their orientation or of any kind,” he said in a statement.

Iglesias offered up a similar sentiment.

With backbones like that, the two stars can play on our team anytime!

A perusal of their Instagram grids show that homophobes haven’t cramped their styles. They continue to be certified fashionistas.

Ruibal publicly shared his love for Iglesias in a post last summer. “I will never tire of thanking you and publicly expressing what it has meant to meet people like you on this journey,” he said.

Soccer world confronts homophobia

Early this year, Iglesias, who’s one of the top goal scorers in the league, was once again the subject of antigay vitriol. For the first time, La Liga denounced the hateful rhetoric.

“In our football, there is no place for homophobia. From LALIGA we denounce any type of hatred. #LALIGAVSHOMOFOBIA,” the league posted from its official X account.

Next to England’s Premier League, La Liga is the most popular soccer league in the world. And its voice is needed.

As Outsports reports, there have been a series of homophobic incidents in Spain’s men’s leagues. Alberto Lejarraga, a semi-pro player who married his husband last year, has faced homophobic chants.

Elsewhere in Europe, a German soccer referee whose proposal to his bf went viral was allegedly beat up at his home a few weeks ago by unknown attackers (the motivation for the incident remains undetermined).

Ruibal shows real masculinity

With a beautiful family and pro sports career, Ruibal is living the dream. The team captain shows that being a man isn’t about breeding resentment and paranoia.

It’s about standing up for others and being kind. With each message of love, Ruibal projects strength.