Ceuta Solidarity Shirt Controversy
Real Madrid Players Face Criticism After Modifying Ceuta Solidarity Shirts
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Key Points
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The shirts also featured Ceuta’s name and the Spanish coat of arms on the back, not just the “Todos somos caballas” slogan on the front.
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The Ceuta initiative was part of a coordinated series of displays at several matches in the Valencian Community, including Villarreal-Betis and Levante-Barcelona; Barcelona’s players reportedly chose not to participate.
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The campaign also drew controversy after Real Betis player Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, who has Moroccan roots, wore the shirt and faced online abuse; he later said the gesture was intended as humanitarian solidarity rather than a political statement or an affront to Moroccans.
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One report described the scale of the migration crisis as an influx of about 72,000 migrants into Ceuta, whose population was estimated at roughly 85,000, helping explain the heightened political sensitivity around the campaign.
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Real Madrid supporters had already shown solidarity with Ceuta by unveiling a large Ceuta-themed tifo during the club’s Champions League match against Inter Milan the previous week.
Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Ibrahima Konaté sparked backlash on September 15 after appearing to avoid fully wearing solidarity shirts for Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa. The white shirts carried the slogan Source 1 "Todos somos caballas" ("We are all Caballas") and featured Ceuta's name and Spain's coat of arms. Mbappé and Vinícius rolled up their shirts before the handshake, while Konaté held his partially. The move ignited debate over whether players should participate in regional political campaigns.
The campaign came after about 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta during July 2026, overwhelming a city of roughly 85,000 residents Source 2. Real Madrid defended the players' decision, saying each player could choose whether to wear the shirts. But the incident exposed tensions over mixing sports, politics, and regional sensitivities in La Liga.
Why Players Refused the Ceuta Shirts
Mbappé and Vinícius obscured the front slogan by rolling their shirts up to chest level. Konaté carried his shirt without displaying it fully Source 3. Reports suggest the players wanted to avoid being seen as taking a political stance on Spanish-Moroccan territorial tensions. Ceuta sits on Morocco's doorstep, making any Spanish solidarity gesture controversial there.
Real Madrid stated the club "respected differing opinions" and gave players freedom to decide Source 4. The club accepted Elche's request to support the initiative but did not mandate participation. Other clubs faced similar choices: Barcelona's players chose not to wear the shirts at all before their Levante match.
Moroccan Player Abde Faces Online Abuse After Wearing Shirt
Real Betis winger Abdessamad Abde, who holds Moroccan citizenship, wore the Ceuta shirt on September 14 and then faced heavy online harassment from Moroccan fans. He deleted social media posts following the backlash. On September 15, Abde issued a statement: "At no point was the shirt used with a political objective or out of contempt for my people, the Moroccan people."
Abde stressed the gesture was humanitarian support for Ceuta residents, not a territorial claim. His manager Manuel Pellegrini defended him, saying "Football should never be a cause of division." The incident showed how wearing the shirt could alienate players with ties to Morocco or to nations that dispute Spain's control of Ceuta.
Real Madrid's Tifo and the Broader Campaign
Real Madrid supporters had already shown backing for Ceuta on September 8, unveiling a large tifo flag during a Champions League match against Inter Milan. The solidarity campaign was organized by the Asociación Valenciana de Empresarios and coordinated with La Liga clubs Villarreal, Levante, and Elche. The shirts featured "Todos somos caballas" on the front—caballa is the Spanish word for the people of Ceuta.
The campaign aimed to highlight the strain on Ceuta after 70,000 migrants crossed the border in late July and overwhelmed local services Source 2. By August 3, Spain reported about 70,000 migrants had returned to Morocco voluntarily. Real Betis scheduled a charity friendly for October 1 to directly raise funds for Ceuta residents.
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