Sevilla FC celebrated International Butterfly Skin Day with an emotional visit from Leo, a 12-year-old boy who lives with this chronic disease. During the last training session prior to Osasuna's visit, the team met with the little boy in the Sánchez-Pizjuán locker room and, as a sign of solidarity, all the players went out onto the field with their shirts inside out, a symbolic gesture that draws attention to the delicate skin condition of those affected.
Butterfly Skin, also known as erosive epidermolysis, causes the skin to break when the seams and labels of clothing rub together, generating painful blisters. Therefore, patients often wear their clothing inside out to avoid direct contact with the seams. Leo, who is receiving treatment at the Virgen del Rocío Hospital, has turned his story into a symbol of hope for the club. According to him, the team has won every time he has visited the locker room, which has given him the reputation of Sevilla's “talisman.”
The boy has taken his cause beyond football, even presenting his situation before the European Parliament. The treatment, which is high-cost and poorly regulated, has recently been approved by the Andalusian Government, which has allowed Leo to receive the necessary care. “Everything has changed for me,” says Leo, pointing out the improvement in his mood and the reduction in injuries. “Thank you all very much for being with us, we will continue fighting always.”
For Sevilla, Leo's visit has become a reminder of the social responsibility that sport entails. Luis García Plaza, president of the club, and the players have expressed their support and friendship for the boy, who is already a regular figure in training and matches. The gesture of wearing the shirt backwards, in addition to making the disease visible, demonstrates the team's empathy towards those who suffer without a definitive cure.
The next match against Osasuna will be played with the awareness that football can be a powerful platform for raising awareness and supporting humanitarian causes. Sevilla will continue to wear the shirt backwards on future occasions as a symbol of solidarity, as the club continues its campaign to raise awareness about Butterfly Skin and the need for more equitable access to treatments.