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Real Madrid stars Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Ibrahima Konaté appeared to show their objection to a pre-match gesture of solidarity for the Spanish city of Ceuta, prior to Tuesday's victory against Elche.
Before the opening whistle at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, players walked out of the tunnel wearing a white t-shirt bearing the slogan "todos somos caballas." The phrase translates to "we are all mackerel," a nickname used to refer to residents of Ceuta.
The gesture was part of an initiative organized by the Valencian Business Association to express "solidarity, closeness, and territorial and social cohesion" with Ceuta.
The Real Madrid trio chose to roll up their shirts, hiding the message, before swiftly removing them after the pre-match handshakes—a decision that has sparked significant controversy across Spain.
What Is the Ceuta Situation?
The autonomous Spanish enclave, located along the North African coastline, became the focal point of a migration crisis in late July, when an estimated 80,000 individuals crossed illegally into the territory from Morocco.
By August 3, Spanish authorities reported that approximately 70,000 of those who had entered Ceuta during the mass crossing had voluntarily returned to Morocco. Nevertheless, thousands were said to still be present in the city as of early September, and the episode has triggered a broader crisis within Spain.
On September 2, Ceuta Day, large crowds across Spain took part in mass demonstrations against the government's response to the situation and in a show of support for Ceuta.
The matter continues to be a deeply sensitive issue nationwide and has taken on political and symbolic significance due to broader tensions surrounding immigration, Ceuta, and the diplomatic relationship between Spain and Morocco.
Why Did Real Madrid Players Protest?
La camiseta en supuesto apoyo a Ceuta que han llevado hoy Elche y Real Madrid es de la patronal de empresarios valencianos (presidida por el naviero Vicente Boluda, que hace grandes negocios con Marruecos). El FC Barcelona se negó a llevarla contra el Levante. pic.twitter.com/axTBcKy8Li
Prior to the match against Elche, Real Madrid confirmed through its official channels that the club would be taking part in the "show of solidarity with Ceuta."
El Pais reports that the three players' choice to roll up their shirts stems from "personal sensitivities" and views that "do not align with the club's position." AS notes that Real Madrid "defends the diversity of opinions and sensitivities within its dressing room and gave each player the individual freedom to choose whether or not to wear the shirt."
The same t-shirt also featured in the pre-match ceremony before Barcelona's 4–2 victory over Levante. While all Levante players wore the shirt, Barça—as a collective—declined to take part entirely.
Elsewhere, Morocco international Ez Abde, who represents Real Betis, faced a wave of criticism on social media after choosing to wear a similar shirt ahead of his team's recent fixture against Villarreal.
He subsequently posted on social media: "At no point was the shirt representing the people of Ceuta used for political purposes or to show contempt for my people, the Moroccan people. This was a shirt with a social message, in support of a population and its inhabitants, regardless of their nationality, who were going through a difficult time.
"However, this is not an apology to anyone, and anyone who wishes to use this to question my love for my country is free to do so. I will continue to live each day with my head held high and will continue to represent my roots with pride and dedication."
Madrid claimed a 3–2 win in Tuesday's match against Elche, with Mbappé among the scorers. Neither Mbappé, Konaté, nor Vinícius Jr. have publicly addressed their decision to roll up the shirt.