Real Madrid’s pre-match display of solidarity with Ceuta lost its visual unity when Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate rolled up or removed the white T-shirts bearing the slogan Todos somos caballas.
Players from both teams entered Elche’s Martinez Valero wearing the shirts, which carried the phrase and references to the Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast. Most of the players kept their shirts on through the pre-match formalities, but Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate rolled their shirts up to about chest height so parts of the slogan were obscured. Mbappe and Vinicius then took their shirts off before the customary handshake, while Konate kept his on for longer.
The incident interrupted an otherwise coordinated campaign of visible support for Ceuta. Real previously staged a tribute at the Santiago Bernabeu on 8 September, when supporters in the south stand held up cards showing the city’s coat of arms and the stadium joined a round of applause. Other La Liga teams and players have taken part in the T-shirt initiative as intended, while Barcelona did not participate.
The gesture followed a major migration episode affecting Ceuta. At least 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the city on 30 and 31 July, and the mayor recorded at least 100 deaths during the crossings. While most people returned, as many as 5,000 remain in makeshift camps or are sleeping on streets and beaches, and those conditions have contributed to unrest among local residents, including destruction of some shelters and blockades of aid.
Representatives of the players have been asked for comment. The episode came shortly before a dramatic match in which Real recovered from surrendering a two-goal lead to beat Elche 3-2, Carlos Espi scoring the stoppage-time winner; Mbappe was among Madrid’s scorers and Vinicius started.
The visible unevenness in participation highlights divergent responses among players and clubs to the Ceuta campaign and is likely to sharpen scrutiny of public solidarity efforts in Spanish football.
