Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate spark debate over Ceuta support shirts

Players from Elche and Real Madrid walked on to the pitch at the Manuel Martinez Valero on Tuesday wearing shirts supporting Ceuta before their La Liga match, with three prominent Real Madrid players reportedly choosing not to display theirs.

According to Marca, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate were each handed a shirt by Real Madrid’s kit official in the tunnel leading to the pitch.

Konate carried his shirt in his hands, while Mbappe and Vinicius placed theirs over their shoulders without fully showing them. However, once they reached the tunnel, the three players refrained from displaying the shirts, attracting attention before kick-off.

The shirts carried the slogan “We are all Caballas”, expressing support for the autonomous city of Ceuta, which experienced a huge influx of Moroccans in late July.

The incident follows a series of public displays of support for Ceuta connected with Real Madrid. During last week’s Champions League match against Inter, the club’s supporters displayed a large tifo made up of Ceuta flags in the southern stand at the Santiago Bernabeu.

A few hours earlier, Real Madrid had issued a statement denying that there was any ban on showing support for the residents of the autonomous city.

The club had also previously highlighted the initiative on its official website. Its account of the match stated: “Before the start of the game between Elche and Real Madrid, the players of both teams went on to the pitch at the Manuel Martinez Valero wearing shirts bearing the phrase ‘We are all Caballas’, as an expression of solidarity with Ceuta.”

That background has made the apparent decision by Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate not to show their shirts a source of debate.

The situation comes a day after Moroccan Real Betis forward Abde Ezzalzouli wore a Ceuta support shirt before his side’s match against Villarreal on Monday. He subsequently faced a wave of criticism and abuse from many Moroccans.

Ezzalzouli responded to the reaction in a statement posted on his Instagram account.

“First, I would like to clarify one thing: at no point was the shirt referring to the city of Ceuta used for political purposes or with the intention of showing contempt for the Moroccan people,” he wrote.

He added: “The shirt had a social purpose, supporting the residents and families of an area who were experiencing a difficult situation, regardless of their nationality.”

Ezzalzouli concluded: “At the same time, this is not an apology to anyone, and anyone who wants to use this matter to question my love for my country is free to do so. As for me, I will continue to live every day with my head held high, and I will continue to represent my roots with pride and sacrifice.”