Ceuta football match turns into protest over migration crisis

Players from AD Ceuta and UD Las Palmas staged a symbolic protest during their LaLiga Hypermotion match at the Estadio Municipal Alfonso Murube to draw attention to the migration crisis in Ceuta. Both teams wore shirts bearing the message, “Ceuta is not for sale. Ceuta must be defended,” following a massive influx of tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco in late July that strained the city's resources.

As part of the demonstration, AD Ceuta players stood still for the first 30 seconds of the match. The protest was supported by LaLiga president Javier Tebas, who stated, “Ceuta is Spain. Ceuta is ours.”

UD Las Palmas officials initially hesitated to participate in the demonstration due to concerns regarding potential repercussions while traveling through Moroccan territory. To mitigate risks, the club's president, Miguel Ángel Ramírez, reported that players carried their protest kits and boots inside their backpacks during transit through Morocco to avoid issues at border controls. Despite the political tension and chants from fans directed at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the match proceeded, with Las Palmas eventually securing a 0-2 victory.