Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Real Madrid Defends Stars Over Obscured Ceuta Support Shirts
Real Madrid players were given shirts supporting the people of Ceuta before a football match.
The shirts said, “We are all Caballas,” which is a nickname for people from Ceuta.
Mbappe and Vinicius rolled their shirts up so the words could not be read and later took them off.
Konate held his shirt without showing the message clearly.
Some people criticized the players online.
Real Madrid said players could choose whether to take part because people in the squad may have different opinions.
The campaign followed more than 70,000 irregular crossings into Ceuta from Morocco in July.
The players have not said why they did not fully show the shirts.
Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior rolled up and then removed Ceuta solidarity shirts before Real Madrid’s match against Elche.
Ibrahima Konate reportedly held his shirt rather than fully displaying its message.
The shirts read “Todos somos caballas,” translated as “We are all Caballas” or “We are all mackerels,” referring to Ceuta residents.
Real Madrid said it accepted the initiative but allowed players to decide individually whether to wear the shirts because of differing opinions and sensitivities.
The episode prompted online criticism, while the articles said the players have not explained their decisions and their actions do not prove opposition to the campaign.
- Who
- Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate were involved; Real Madrid defended their right to make individual choices.
- What
- Players were asked to wear shirts supporting Ceuta, but Mbappe and Vinicius obscured and removed theirs while Konate held his.
- When
- Before Tuesday’s LaLiga match between Real Madrid and Elche.
- Where
- At the Martinez Valero Stadium.
- Why
- The shirts were part of a solidarity campaign following more than 70,000 irregular crossings into Ceuta from Morocco in July, though the initiative carried differing political and symbolic interpretations.
Campaign Supporters
Individual Choice Defenders
Displaying the message
Campaign Supporters
Players should have clearly displayed the shirts to show solidarity with Ceuta and its residents.
Individual Choice Defenders
Real Madrid said each player should be free to decide whether to participate because squad members may have differing opinions and sensitivities.
Meaning of the gesture
Campaign Supporters
Rolling up or holding the shirts was criticized online as failing to show respect for the solidarity campaign.
Individual Choice Defenders
The players’ actions do not establish that they opposed the campaign or held a particular position on the wider issue surrounding Ceuta.
Political interpretation
Campaign Supporters
Supporters viewed the shirts as backing a community and social cause connected to the events in Ceuta.
Individual Choice Defenders
Ez Abde said wearing the shirt supported a community and social cause rather than conveying political content, while the articles note that the initiative had political and symbolic implications for some people.
- Slogan
- “Todos somos caballas,” translated in the articles as “We are all Caballas” or “We are all mackerels.”
- Players involved
- Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate.
- Match
- Real Madrid versus Elche in LaLiga.
- Club position
- Real Madrid accepted Elche’s request and supported the initiative while allowing each player to decide whether to wear the shirt.
- Campaign context
- More than 70,000 irregular crossings into Ceuta from Morocco occurred in July, prompting solidarity movements across Spain.
- Initiative promoter
- The shirt initiative was promoted by the Valencian Business Association.
- Other responses
- Barcelona did not wear the shirts against Levante, while Ez Abde defended wearing one before Real Betis played Villarreal.
Sources
'Show Some Respect': Real Madrid Stars Mbappe, Vinicius Jr. And Konate Face Online Backlash After Refusing To Display Ceuta Support Shirts
Real Madrid Defend Mbappe, Vinicius After Covering Message of Support for Ceuta