Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Ibrahima Konate have faced backlash from the Ultras Sur supporters’ group after opting to wear a commemorative T-shirt partially rolled up during a recent La Liga fixture. The incident took place ahead of Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Elche on Tuesday, where the trio appeared to deliberately alter the presentation of the garment meant to show solidarity with Ceuta.
The T-shirt, which featured the slogan “we are all Ceutans,” was intended to support the Spanish North African territory amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis. While the rest of the players on both teams wore the shirts fully displayed, the specific conduct of the three Madrid stars prompted the far-right associated group to issue a sharp statement on X. “We are certain that every Real Madrid supporter and every Spaniard is ashamed of the image given by these three individuals,” the group stated, branding their actions “unacceptable.”
Ultras Sur, which has maintained a contentious relationship with the club since being banned from the Santiago Bernabeu over a decade ago, also criticized club president Florentino Perez for his silence on the matter. La Liga President Javier Tebas echoed the frustration regarding the display, arguing that “putting it half on is the same as not wearing it.”
The shirt campaign was sparked by a severe migration crisis that saw tens of thousands of individuals arrive in Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31. The influx overwhelmed the city, leaving many to sleep on beaches and streets. The situation has resulted in a high death toll, with the Moroccan Association for Human Rights estimating that at least 141 people have died during the dangerous crossings.
Addressing the controversy in an interview with the Spanish daily AS, Mbappe defended his intentions. He expressed complete solidarity with the people of Ceuta and the victims of the crisis. He explained that his choice to modify the shirt was intended as a personal gesture to honor the immigrants who lost their lives and those enduring difficult living conditions. Despite most migrants returning shortly after their arrival, several thousand remain in the territory, where ongoing poor conditions continue to drive significant friction with the local population. The report also notes that but several thousand remained in Ceuta, where deteriorating conditions have fuelled tensions with local residents, most returned hours after they arrived.
