Real Betis even when they lose!"). The name "Betis" is derived from "Baetis", the Roman name for the Guadalquivir river which passes through Seville and which the Roman province there was named after. "Real" was added in 1914 after the club received patronage from King Alfonso XIII. Betis' city rivals Sevilla FC were the first club in Sevilla, founded in October 1905, while a second club, "Sevilla Balompié" were established in September 1907. ""Balompié"" translates literally as "football", as opposed to the most commonly adopted anglicised version, ""fútbol"". Balompié was founded by students from the local Polytechnic Academy, and were in operation
Real Betis proceedings, Lopera sold 94% of the shares that he owned (51% of Betis total shares) to Bitton Sport, fronted by Luis Oliver, for the surprisingly low figure of €16 million, leaving Lopera with only minor shares; Oliver had already reportedly taken two football clubs, Cartagena and Xerez, to the brink of bankruptcy. Before the sale could be officially sanctioned, however, Ayala froze Lopera shareholdings. Left with nothing, despite putting down a €1 million deposit, Oliver hastily bought a nominal number of shares from a third party and was voted onto the board of directors by the existing members (all former