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Kylian Mbappé Ceuta solidarity shirt controversy

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2026-09-19 16:59 UTC → 2026-09-19 17:12 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Real Madrid player Kylian Mbappé faced criticism from LaLiga president Javier Tebas following a match against Elche. Mbappé, alongside teammates Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahima Konaté, partially wore solidarity shirts intended to support the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The t-shirts featured the slogan ‘Todos somos caballas’ and ‘Nuestra Ciudad, nuestra patria’ to highlight the recent migration crisis in the region. However, the players wore the garments folded at the chest, preventing the message from being fully visible. Tebas characterized the players' actions as “bad,” arguing that such initiatives should be institutional acts rather than platforms for personal political expression. He further remarked that “not wearing it halfway is the same as not wearing it at all.” In an interview with Diario AS, Mbappé addressed the controversy, stating, “I have all the solidarity with Ceuta and all the victims because before being a player, I am human.” He explained that his decision to not fully display the message was an attempt to acknowledge immigrants facing difficult conditions without “prioritizing suffering.” The controversy has drawn intense political commentary. In Spain, members of the People's Party and Vox expressed indignation, while Real Madrid's Ultras Sur group demanded a public apology. In France, Marine Le Pen and members of the Rassemblement National criticized the footballer, linking his actions to debates over European border sovereignty. French politician Eric Zemmour further escalated the tension, accusing Mbappé of “Islamic solidarity” with migrants. In response to Zemmour’s comments, Green Party MP Léa Agel filed a complaint with the media regulator Arcom, describing his remarks as xenophobic. Conversely, members of La France Insoumise and Spain's Minister of Youth and Childhood Sira Rego defended the gesture as a humanitarian act. In response to the escalating tension, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez traveled to Ceuta for an institutional visit to reaffirm the club’s official support for the city. Real Madrid officials noted that while the club accepted Elche's proposal to wear the commemorative shirts, individual players remained free to choose whether to display the message based on their personal opinions.

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