Three prominent Real Madrid players drew attention Tuesday night by declining to wear pre-match T-shirts expressing solidarity with Ceuta, the Spanish autonomous city in North Africa that has been grappling with a migration crisis since late July. Kylian Mbappé and Ibrahima Konaté of France, along with Brazil's Vinícius Júnior, stepped onto the pitch at the Martínez Valero stadium before Real Madrid's match against Elche with the shirts either rolled up, covered, or carried rather than worn as intended.
The shirts bore the slogan «We are all Caballas» in Spanish, a message of support for the residents of Ceuta, where locals are known as Caballas. The gesture was part of a coordinated display by both teams, and Real Madrid had announced its participation on its official website, saying players from Elche and Real Madrid would wear the shirts before kickoff as an expression of solidarity with Ceuta.
Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior were seen with the message mostly concealed after rolling up the shirts, while Konaté reportedly carried his in his hands. Once the official team photo was taken, Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior removed the shirts to reveal their Real Madrid jerseys. The reason for their refusal remains unknown, but the decision was clear and added a layer of controversy to Spain's most popular soccer club.
The episode unfolds against a tense backdrop. Ceuta, a Spanish territory bordering Morocco, has seen an influx of 72,000 migrants from Morocco into a city of 85,000 residents, causing widespread disruption. Tens of thousands of Spaniards have since taken to the streets across the country to protest the government's handling of the situation. Earlier this month, authorities said 50,000 protesters gathered in Madrid alone, expressing frustration with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's administration.
Ceuta's regional leader, Juan Jesús Vivas, has characterized the events sharply. «What happened to us was not a migratory crisis,» he said earlier this month. «What happened was the violation of Spain's territorial integrity.» Thousands of the migrants who entered the territory remain there.
Real Madrid fans had already shown their support for Ceuta. Just last week, they unveiled a large tifo made up of Ceuta flags during the Champions League match against Inter Milan. The club's decision to have players wear the solidarity shirts before the Elche match was meant to continue that display.
The controversy also follows a similar incident involving Moroccan soccer player Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, who faced backlash from his compatriots after wearing a comparable shirt supporting Ceuta during Real Betis' match against Villarreal on Monday. He reportedly received threats and widespread criticism, with many Moroccans viewing it as a political statement against their country.
Ezzalzouli later addressed the reaction on Instagram, saying the shirt had a social character, aimed at supporting residents of a region living through a difficult situation regardless of nationality. He added that it was not an apology to anyone and that anyone wishing to exploit the matter to question his love for his country was free to do so. He said he would continue to represent his roots with pride.
The refusal by the three Real Madrid players has not been explained by the club or the players. It remains unclear whether their decision was personal, political, or otherwise. The incident has nonetheless intensified scrutiny on how soccer intersects with Spain's broader debate over migration and national identity.