Real Madrid Players Partially Obscure Ceuta Support Message, Sparking Debate

Before the Elche-Real Madrid match on Tuesday evening in La Liga, players from both teams wore t-shirts expressing support for Ceuta and its residents amidst a major migration crisis. However, Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius, and Ibrahima Konaté partially concealed the slogan "We are all Ceutans" on their jerseys.

On Tuesday evening, Real Madrid played away against Elche for the sixth round of La Liga. Before kickoff, players from both sides entered the field wearing t-shirts displaying a message of solidarity for Ceuta and its inhabitants: "Todos somos Caballas," meaning "We are all Ceutans." "Caballas" is the nickname for the residents of the Spanish enclave in Morocco, north of Tetouan.

For several weeks, Ceuta, a small 28km² Spanish territory, has faced a significant migration crisis. By the end of July, over 70,000 irregular crossings from Morocco into the enclave were recorded, intensifying tensions surrounding Ceuta and fueling debates on immigration in Spain.

On the Real Madrid side, three players displayed the t-shirt differently. Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius, and Ibrahima Konaté pulled their shirts up to their chests, partly obscuring the "We are all Ceutans" slogan. They removed the shirts entirely before greeting their Elche opponents.

This action followed another display of support for Ceuta at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium just days earlier. Last Wednesday, during the match against Inter Milan in the Champions League, chants supporting the Spanish enclave were heard from the stands, including "Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta will be defended." Banners reading "Tous avec Ceuta" (All with Ceuta) were also distributed.

The Elche incident also occurred the day after controversy involving Ez Abde. The Moroccan Betis forward explained on social media that after facing backlash for wearing a similar t-shirt, the gesture had "no political objective or contempt" towards the Moroccan people. He clarified that it was a shirt supporting a population and its residents, regardless of nationality, facing difficult circumstances.