Vini, Mbappé and Konaté: freedom of expression? | OneFootball

The King said this Tuesday that Ceuta is “a city that we all carry in our hearts and minds these days.” Hours later, Vinícius, Mbappé, and Konaté decided that the message of support for the people of Ceuta should not be seen on their shirts.

The Real Madrid players walked onto the Martínez Valero pitch wearing the white garment from the campaign promoted by LaLiga. But they had it rolled up to their chests to hide the slogan “We are all caballas.” They also took it off before the rest of their teammates. A gesture that can hardly be put down to carelessness. The controversy is served.

Of course, footballers are entitled to their opinions. And no one should force them to speak out on a political conflict or to back a campaign they do not agree with. But here they were not being asked to support a party, defend a Government, or blame Morocco. The shirt expressed solidarity with a Spanish city that has spent weeks enduring an unbearable situation.

It is hard to understand what discomfort that message could cause. Even more so when some footballers demand, quite rightly, solidarity and firmness in the face of racism, insults, or discrimination. Anyone who asks for sensitivity toward their own pain should be able to show it toward the suffering of others.

The contrast was devastating. Felipe VI spoke about Ceuta with clarity, affection, and closeness. These hugely important players, by contrast, hid words of encouragement beneath a rolled-up shirt. They will say they exercised their right to freedom of expression. They do. But freedom also means accepting criticism when one chooses to use it.

Ceuta was not asking for their goals last night. Nor for political statements. Just a simple gesture of solidarity. They preferred instead to shut themselves away in their ivory tower of distant stars.

A. M. BEAUMONT

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.