Seville woke to an uneasy footnote from a European night on Thursday, after Real Betis forward Antony said his home had been burgled while he was playing in the club’s 3-2 Champions League comeback victory over Porto.
A night in Seville turns sour
- Antony represented Betis on Wednesday in their second-round Champions League match of the 2026/27 season, as the Andalusian side recovered to beat Porto 3-2.
- During the match, intruders entered the Brazilian player’s residence in Seville and took belongings from the property.
- On Thursday morning, Antony addressed the incident on Instagram, describing the episode as “sad and outrageous” after what had initially appeared set to be a memorable night.
The forward said the material losses were painful, but that the deeper impact was the loss of security in the place where his family should feel safest.
“It is hard to put into words what it feels like to have your home invaded,” Antony wrote. “The worst part is not only what was taken, but the insecurity it leaves behind. Seeing fear in the eyes of the people I love most hurts even more.”
He said the experience had reinforced his view that his family’s life, peace and wellbeing mattered more than any possessions. The items stolen could be replaced, he added, while the family remained together and able to move forward.
“Our dreams are still alive and our desire to continue has not changed,” he said. “My greatest achievement has never been what I was able to buy, but the family beside me. For them, I would start again from nothing and rebuild as many times as necessary.”
No public response from local authorities
There had been no public statement from local authorities about the burglary by the time Antony released his message.
The case follows a recurring pattern across European football, where players’ homes have been targeted while they are away with their clubs for matches. A review of incidents from December 2018, compiled around two years ago, recorded more than 50 such cases involving footballers from clubs including Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City.
Brazilian players accounted for 17 of those incidents, involving 16 different athletes.
