Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius and Ibrahima Konaté criticised over Ceuta solidarity shirt | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s 3-2 win at Elche on Tuesday was overshadowed by a row involving Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius and Ibrahima Konaté over a pre-match shirt backing Ceuta.

The trio are accused of trying to conceal the slogan by only half-wearing the top as they walked out. According to L'Équipe, Mbappé and Vinicius then removed it before the pre-match protocol.

Players from Betis and Villarreal had worn the same shirt the previous day. Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli, a Morocco international, later denied sending any political message after online abuse.

Ceuta, one of two Spanish enclaves in Morocco with Melilla, has seen heightened tension since an influx of migrants from Morocco in late July. Tens of thousands entered the city illegally. Most have since returned, but several thousand remain and conditions have deteriorated.

Real Madrid backed the initiative in advance, and defended individual choice by allowing players to decide whether to display the message.

Spanish media have split on the episode, with some urging a public show of solidarity and others stressing personal freedom around a politically sensitive message. The three players have not explained their stance.

Source: L'Équipe

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