Real Madrid faces controversy after three star players refuse to wear pro-Ceuta solidarity shirts before match

Real Madrid Players Roll Up T‑Shirt Protest, Stir Debate Over Ceuta Crisis

In a move that drew both applause and backlash, France’s Kylian Mbappé, France’s Ibrahima Konaté and Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior walked onto the field at Madrid’s Manuel Martínez Valero stadium wearing shirts emblazoned with the slogan “We are all Caballas.” The players—who had been expected to don the same shirts to show solidarity with the Spanish city of Ceuta amid a massive migrant influx—rolled up or dropped the shirts before the match against El Che began, leaving observers to wonder why the trio declined to participate in the display.

The incident occurred during Real Madrid’s La Liga fixture on Tuesday night, a game that had already been highlighted by the club’s own public statement. “Before the start of the match between El Che and Real Madrid, the players of both teams took to the pitch of the ‘Manuel Martínez Valero’ Stadium wearing shirts bearing the phrase ‘We are all Caballas,’ as an expression of solidarity with Ceuta,” the club’s website read.

Ceuta, an autonomous Spanish city perched on the northern coast of Africa, has been in the news since late July when an estimated 72,000 Moroccan migrants crossed into its borders. With a population of around 85,000 residents, the sudden surge has strained local resources and sparked nationwide protests in Spain, with tens of thousands of citizens taking to Madrid’s streets to demand a stronger government response from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

The club’s supporters were not alone in their attempt to show solidarity. The week before the match, Real Madrid fans unveiled a large tifo of Ceuta flags during the Champions League clash with Inter Milan, and the team’s website had posted an earlier message encouraging support for the city’s residents.

In the moments before kickoff, Konaté was seen holding the shirt up, while Mbappé and Vinícius rolled up the sleeves to reveal their Real Madrid kits. By the time the official team photograph was taken, the shirts were no longer visible, and the players appeared in their normal jerseys. The reasons for their decision remain unclear, but the abrupt removal of the shirts sparked a flurry of commentary on social media and among fans.

The episode follows a similar controversy involving Moroccan striker Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, who wore a shirt supporting Ceuta during Real Betis’ match against Villarreal on Monday. Ezzalzouli later posted on Instagram to clarify his stance: “The shirt had a social character, within the framework of supporting the residents and people of a region who were living through a difficult situation, regardless of their nationality. But at the same time, this is not an apology to anyone, and anyone who wishes to exploit 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.”

Ceuta’s regional leader, Juan Jesús Vivas, has also weighed in. “What happened to us was not a migratory crisis,” he said earlier this month. “What happened was the violation of Spain’s territorial integrity.” His comments echo the frustration expressed by thousands of protesters in Madrid who have called for a different approach to the crisis.

The incident has added another layer to an already complex debate. While many Spanish citizens and supporters of Real Madrid have expressed empathy for Ceuta’s residents, others view the protests as politicizing a humanitarian issue. The Prime Minister’s handling of the situation has been a particular point of contention, with some opposition figures labeling Sánchez a “traitor” for their perceived inaction.

As the match concluded with Real Madrid’s victory, the controversy over the shirts continues to ripple across social media platforms. Fans and pundits alike are left questioning the role of football figures in political and social advocacy, and whether the act of wearing—or refusing to wear—symbolic apparel constitutes meaningful support or merely a performative gesture.