Ceuta shirt controversy: who backed the campaign and who refused | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Jr and Ibrahima Konaté tied the Ceuta-support shirt around their waists rather than wear it before Real Madrid’s game at Elche on Tuesday night, intensifying a row over the campaign. Both clubs had agreed to display the shirt carrying the slogan "Todos somos caballas".

Per El Periódico Mediterráneo, the white shirt reading "Todos somos caballas. Ceuta y sus caballeros de la mar" is from an Asociación Valenciana de Empresarios campaign, launched on 11 September 2026 to show solidarity with Ceuta after a late-July mass entry from Morocco.

LaLiga allowed the initiative in matchdays five and six in the Valencian Community, covering Levante v Barcelona, Villarreal v Betis and Elche v Real Madrid. Madrid and Betis joined their hosts, while Barcelona declined and lined up in their kit.

Against Inter Milan at the Bernabéu, the south stand unveiled a mosaic of Ceuta flags. Hours earlier, Madrid had issued a statement denying any ban on support for the Autonomous City and highlighted the shirts’ pre-match use at Elche.

The club under Florentino Pérez has played down the incident and says players choose whether to wear such shirts. No Madrid player spoke or faced media after Elche, a habit repeated this season.

Betis winger Abde started at Villarreal wearing the shirt and has since received online insults and threats. He said it was a gesture of solidarity, not politics, and stressed his commitment to Morocco. Brahim did not wear it as he was not in the starting XI.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

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