Mbappe Explains Gesture Amid Ceuta Shirt Controversy

PARIS: (Sports Desk) –  Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has explained why he partially covered a shirt supporting the people of Ceuta before his team’s La Liga match against Elche, saying he wanted to show solidarity with migrants who lost their lives while attempting to reach the Spanish territory.

Mbappe, along with Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate, faced criticism after the trio wore the “We are all Ceutans” shirt partially rolled up before Tuesday’s match. Other Real Madrid players and members of the Elche squad wore the shirts without covering the message.

The shirts were intended as a show of support for Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa that has faced a migration crisis. Local residents have reported migrants from Morocco sleeping on streets and camping on beaches, while scores of people died during attempts to cross into the territory in July.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights, an NGO, has estimated that at least 141 people died during the crisis.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper AS, Mbappe said he fully supported Ceuta and the victims, stressing that his actions were motivated by his concern for migrants who had also suffered or died.

“I have complete solidarity with Ceuta and all the victims, because before being a player, I am human,” Mbappe said. He added that he wanted his gesture to express concern for migrants living in difficult conditions.

Tens of thousands of migrants arrived in Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31. Most returned shortly afterwards, although several thousand remained in the territory.

Mbappe said his intention was to deliver a “message of peace” and insisted that he had no intention of disrespecting the people of Ceuta.

He also acknowledged that his gesture could be misunderstood, but said he did not want to prioritise one group’s suffering over another.

La Liga president Javier Tebas had earlier criticised Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate, saying that partially wearing the shirt amounted to not wearing it at all.

The initiative was launched by a group of entrepreneurs from Spain’s Valencia region. Tebas said La Liga had approved the initiative but had not organised it, adding that it was not intended as a political statement.

Miguel Angel Montano, president of Real Madrid’s Ceuta supporters’ club, said he was disappointed after seeing the three players cover the message on their shirts.

Meanwhile, Real Betis and Villarreal players wore the shirts before their match on Monday, while Levante also used them ahead of their game against Barcelona. Barcelona, however, opted not to wear the shirts.

Real Betis and Morocco winger Abde Ezzalzouli also defended his decision to wear the shirt after facing criticism online. He said the gesture was not intended to be political or disrespectful toward Moroccans, describing it instead as an expression of support for Ceuta’s population regardless of nationality.