Mbappe and Vinicius criticised after Real Madrid players cover Ceuta message

Real Madrid secured a narrow 3-2 victory over Elche at the Martinez Valero, but the actions of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate before kick-off have attracted criticism unrelated to the match.

The two teams posed for an official photograph on the pitch wearing shirts carrying a message of support for Ceuta, following the mass wave of illegal entries into the city last August. Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate were the only exceptions.

The three Real Madrid players wore the shirts only as far as their chests, preventing the message on the front from being seen. It read: “We are all Ceutans”, referring to the popular designation associated with the people of the autonomous city.

The decision prompted an immediate backlash, led by journalist Federico Jimenez Losantos. Speaking on his programme Federico at Seven, the president of esRadio criticised the players, as well as Real Madrid and other clubs, over their handling of such initiatives.

According to comments published by ABC, Jimenez Losantos said: “As a Spaniard and a Real Madrid supporter, what I feel is not deep shame, but enormous anger.”

He added: “Barcelona doing this is consistent with that club’s anti-Spanish nature. Atletico Madrid doing it hurts me, as do Valencia and Sevilla, but Real Madrid is the most important team and club in the world and in the history of football.”

He specifically condemned the actions of Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate, saying: “We Spaniards who watch in horror the ordeal our fellow citizens in Ceuta are going through will certainly not forgive this.”

In comments carried by esRadio, he continued: “There are 80,000 Spaniards who are being oppressed and forced to remain inside their homes, and a progressive, foolish billionaire teenager like Mbappe certainly will not mock them. At least he will not do so if we are the ones who have a platform, a microphone or a public voice, because we will not allow it. We will not allow it.”

Jimenez Losantos also questioned the club’s leadership for allowing the players to act in that way, asking: “Are we at the mercy of these teenagers?”

Responding to those who defended the players’ decision as an expression of freedom of speech, he argued that footballers also had responsibilities towards their club’s values.

Comments published by Sport included a further criticism of Mbappe. Jimenez Losantos said: “Mbappe is a billionaire who has businesses in Morocco jointly with Achraf Hakimi, who is from Madrid and came through the club’s academy, and who will appear before a court in France on a rape charge.”

The comments came after Real Madrid had been placed under pressure by Elche during the second half, although the visitors held on to claim victory.