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Ricardo Fernández
Updated
On October 31, 1909, the city of Seville witnessed the birth of one of the most intense and exciting rivalries of Spanish football. However, the first derby between Real Betis Balompié and Sevilla FC was not like others, he did not leave a clear mark on history. This meeting, despite being the first official clash between these two Giants of Sevillian football, is known as the ‘Ghost Derbi’, since its result has never been confirmed and there are no official documents that verify how that duel was. A mysterious game that was played in the context of a time of the beginning and uncertainty for sport.
In 1909, football in Spain was still a young discipline, but it was beginning to gain popularity. The civil government of Seville, seeing the growth of this sport and the need to give an official structure to competitions, decided to officially register the two Sevillian societies that same year. Thus, on October 31 of that year, both teams faced for the first time in a derby that promised to be historical.
Players who have dressed Betis and Seville’s t -shirts.BRAND
An unsolved unknown
That day they faced Sevilla FC and Real Betis Balompié, which was called Seville Balompié. The meeting was not official, but was a friendly. Over the years, there are several speculation that have been made about the result of that party, but, the truth is that nOr there is any official document that certifies any of the theories.
Some historians suggest that Betis, even in their first years of existence as a club, could have been overcome by Sevilla, a team that already had a more experienced template. However, There are no sources that confirm it categoricallyand other historians point to the possibility that the game will end in a draw or even be played with the expected intensity.
What there is evidence is that, a week later, On November 7, both teams face each other again in an official tournament and the result was one of a tie to one.
The beginning of a rivalry
Although there is no knowledge of the result, That October 31, 1909 marked the beginning of a sports rivalry that is still alive for more than a century. From that first meeting to the present, both clubs have starred in epic battles, which have forged a relationship as special as tense, with victories, defeats, draws and even dramatic times, such as European eliminations.
Betis and Seville training in the Andalusian derby.
This Sunday, March 30, Betis and Seville will leave us a new installment of a confrontation that is part of the history of Spanish football. Although this time, we will know the final result.
