Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate criticized for partially hiding Ceuta solidarity message

Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Ibrahima Konate faced backlash from La Liga authorities after appearing to obscure a solidarity message during Real Madrid’s visit to Elche on Tuesday. The trio rolled up their pre-match T-shirts, which read “Todos somos caballas” (“We are all Ceutans”), limiting the visibility of the slogan intended to show support for the Spanish autonomous city in North Africa.

While most participants, including players from both sides at the Martinez Valero stadium, wore the white shirts fully, the Real Madrid stars took different approaches. Mbappe and Vinicius removed their shirts entirely before the pre-match handshake, whereas Konate kept his rolled up for a longer duration. Teammates and opponents continued to wear the shirts as intended throughout the ceremony.

La Liga president Javier Tebas was vocal in his disapproval, stating that wearing the shirt halfway was equivalent to not wearing it at all. “Bad, bad,” Tebas told reporters, confirming that the initiative, organized by entrepreneurs from the Valencia region, had been officially approved by the league and was not a political act.

The controversy stems from a severe migration crisis in Ceuta, which borders Morocco. Between July 30 and 31, at least 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the territory, with roughly 100 fatalities reported during the crossings. Although many have returned, approximately 5,000 remain in makeshift camps or on the streets, leading to local unrest and safety concerns among residents.

This incident follows previous displays of support for Ceuta by Real Madrid. Prior to their Champions League match against Inter Milan on September 8, fans displayed cards featuring the city’s coat of arms at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The partial concealment of the message highlighted a divergence in how clubs handled the campaign. Barcelona opted out of the initiative entirely, while other La Liga players adhered to the agreed-upon display. The episode preceded a dramatic 3-2 victory for Real Madrid over Elche, secured by a stoppage-time winner from Carlos Espi, with Mbappe among the scorers.