Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has explained his decision to partially cover a pre-match shirt supporting residents of Ceuta, saying he wanted to show solidarity with both the Spanish territory and migrants affected by the wider humanitarian situation.
Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahima Konaté attracted attention before Real Madrid’s La Liga meeting with Elche on Tuesday after partially obscuring shirts carrying the message “Todos somos caballas”, a phrase expressing solidarity with people from Ceuta.
While most players displayed the message fully, the three Real Madrid players covered or held their shirts differently before the match.
Mbappé later explained that his action was not intended as a rejection of the people of Ceuta. Instead, he said he wanted to acknowledge the suffering of migrants who have also been affected by events in the region.
The France international said he stood in solidarity with Ceuta and its victims but wanted to use the moment to remember migrants who had lost their lives or were living in difficult conditions.
He said his position came from his desire not to place one group’s suffering above another and described his intention as a message of peace and positivity.
Ceuta migration crisis
The footballers’ gesture comes amid heightened attention on Ceuta following a major influx of migrants from Morocco in July.
More than 70,000 irregular crossings were recorded during the period, according to figures cited in recent reports, while deaths were also reported during the crossings.
Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast, borders Morocco and has become the centre of renewed debate over migration, humanitarian conditions and the situation of residents.
Real Madrid had previously shown support for Ceuta before its Champions League match against Inter Milan on September 8, when supporters displayed images featuring the territory’s coat of arms.
The club later defended its players’ freedom to decide whether to participate in the shirt initiative, saying it supported the campaign while respecting different views among its players.
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Different responses among players
The Ceuta campaign has produced different reactions across Spanish football.
Barcelona did not participate in the initiative during its match against Levante, while players from other La Liga clubs wore the shirts as intended.
Morocco international Ez Abde also wore the shirt before Real Betis’ match against Villarreal and subsequently faced criticism on social media. He said the gesture was intended as support for a community and was not meant as a political statement or an attack on Morocco.
Mbappé, meanwhile, said his intention was to recognise the suffering of people on different sides of the situation.
The Real Madrid forward’s explanation has added another perspective to the debate surrounding the campaign, with the player maintaining that his gesture was motivated by humanitarian concerns rather than opposition to the people of Ceuta.