The support for Ceuta shown before Real Madrid’s match at Elche was overshadowed after Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate rolled up their pre-match shirts, partly covering a message dedicated to the Spanish autonomous city.
Players from Real Madrid and Elche entered the Martinez Valero wearing white T-shirts displaying the slogan “Todos somos caballas”, which translates as “We are all Ceutans”, alongside references to Ceuta.
Most players wore the shirts as intended during the pre-match formalities, but Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate had theirs rolled up to around chest height, obscuring part of the slogan.
Mbappe and Vinicius subsequently removed their shirts before the pre-match handshake, while Konate kept his on for longer. Their Real Madrid team-mates and the Elche players continued wearing the shirts during the pre-match proceedings.
The actions of the three players attracted criticism from La Liga president Javier Tebas, who questioned their decision not to display the full message.
Support for Ceuta draws criticism from La Liga president
Tebas was particularly critical of the way the three Real Madrid players wore the shirts, arguing that partially covering the message was effectively the same as not displaying it.
“We saw three players decide not to wear it, putting it half on is the same as not wearing it… bad, bad,” Tebas told reporters.
The La Liga president also confirmed that the initiative had received approval from the league and insisted that it was not intended as a political act.
According to Tebas, the campaign originated from a group of entrepreneurs from the Valencia region before receiving approval from La Liga.
The different approaches taken by the players therefore became a major talking point before the match, particularly because the majority of players involved had chosen to display the message fully.
The representatives of Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate have been asked for comment regarding their actions.
What does “We are all Ceutans” mean?
The “We are all Ceutans” campaign comes against the backdrop of a major migration crisis in Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city situated on the North African coast and sharing a border with Morocco.
Ceuta is separated from mainland Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar, making its geographical position particularly significant in discussions surrounding migration between Africa and Europe.
The initiative followed a major movement of migrants into the territory after thousands of people crossed from Morocco.
According to figures cited in the report, at least 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta on 30 and 31 July. Most made the journey by swimming around a border fence, while at least 100 people died during the crossing according to figures from Ceuta’s mayor.
Although the majority of those who entered subsequently returned, thousands remained in difficult conditions, with some living in makeshift camps or sleeping on streets and beaches.
The situation also generated unrest among some local residents. Safety concerns were expressed, while some shelters were destroyed and aid supplies intended for migrants were blocked.
The pre-match campaign was therefore part of a wider public show of support for Ceuta during a period of considerable tension in the territory.
Real Madrid had previously honored Ceuta
The gesture at Elche was not the first time Real Madrid had publicly shown support for Ceuta.
Before their Champions League meeting with Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu on 8 September, supporters in the stadium’s south stand displayed cards featuring Ceuta’s coat of arms.
The rest of the stadium subsequently joined the tribute with a round of applause.
That earlier gesture formed part of a wider show of solidarity towards the autonomous city, making the pre-match shirts at Elche another visible expression of support.
However, the different reactions from players highlighted that there was not universal participation in the latest initiative.
Barcelona did not take part in the campaign, while players at other La Liga fixtures wore the shirts as intended.
The contrast between the clubs and individual players added another dimension to the discussion surrounding the campaign.
Controversy precedes dramatic Real Madrid comeback
The debate over the shirts came before what proved to be another dramatic evening for Real Madrid.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side surrendered a two-goal advantage against Elche but recovered to secure a 3-2 victory, with Carlos Espi scoring the winning goal in stoppage time.
Mbappe was among Real Madrid’s goalscorers, while Vinicius started the match.
The victory means Madrid have won six of their seven matches in all competitions this season, maintaining an impressive start to the campaign.
Yet the result was not the only major talking point from their trip to Elche.
The pre-match campaign and the differing reactions to the shirts placed Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate under scrutiny before the match had even begun.
The episode has also highlighted the increasingly complicated relationship between football, public campaigns and social issues, particularly when players and clubs are asked to participate in initiatives that carry significance beyond the pitch.
For Ceuta, the message remained visible as most players and clubs involved chose to display it. For Real Madrid’s three players, however, their decision to partially cover or remove the shirts ensured that the campaign became a major talking point of the night.
