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SportsQuiet 3d · day 3

Real Madrid players' migrant solidarity shirts ignite Spanish football row

Kylian Mbappe and teammates' show of support for Ceuta migrants sparks backlash from La Liga and derision from fans.

newest coverage 2d agosummary written 2d ago3 pieces1 likes & upvotes NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • Real Madrid players wore rolled-up solidarity shirts referencing the humanitarian crisis in Ceuta, where 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco in late July, killing 141 people according to Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras.
  • La Liga leadership and Spanish football officials criticised the players' gesture, questioning whether they understood the campaign's context and its political sensitivity.
  • The controversy erupted publicly during the Madrid derby, where a counter-banner mocking the rolled-up shirts appeared, though fans from both sides briefly united in nationalist chants.
  • Real Madrid and Spanish national team officials have publicly affirmed Spain's claim to Ceuta, with coach Luis de la Fuente visiting with the World Cup trophy.

“Real Madrid later said it respected each player's freedom to participate in the initiative.”

Real Madrid, Club statement · Al Jazeera ↗

Kylian MbappeKylian Mbappe Real Madrid forwardVinicius JuniorVinicius Junior Real Madrid wingerIbrahima Konate Real Madrid defenderJavier TebasJavier Tebas La Liga presidentVicente Boluda AVE chairman and former interim Real Madrid president

Real Madrid players' migrant solidarity shirts ignite Spanish football row
aljazeera.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 1 piece in one hour at Sep 21, 12 PM; 3 pieces over 3 days (1 article · 2 posts) Sep 21, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 21, 1 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 21, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quiet 1
Sep 22yesterdaynow · 7:48 AM ET
  1. 1

    Spain coach and Real Madrid president visit Ceuta with World Cup trophy

    Spain coach Luis de la Fuente travelled to Ceuta with the World Cup trophy, declaring 'This is Spain, this is Ceuta.' Real Madrid president Florentino Perez later visited and said the trip had been organised weeks earlier and was not a response to the controversy involving his players.

    “This is Spain, this is Ceuta.”
    — Luis de la Fuente
  2. background

    Atletico Madrid supporter condemns players' gesture as disrespectful — Jorge Garcia, a 32-year-old Atletico Madrid supporter, termed the players' move 'disrespectful' to both Ceuta and Spain when speaking to Al Jazeera after the match.

  3. background

    Madrid derby becomes flashpoint for migrant solidarity debate — During the Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid match, a banner stating 'Ceuta es Espana. Ni se arruga, ni se tapa' (Ceuta is Spain. It is neither rolled up, nor covered) was unfurled in reference to the rolled-up shirts controversy. Mbappe and Vinicius were whistled by fans from both sides. However, supporters from both clubs briefly united to chant 'Ceuta no se vende, Ceuta se defiende' (Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta must be defended) for two minutes before resuming hostilities.

  4. background

    La Liga president Tebas criticises Real Madrid players — La Liga president Javier Tebas criticised the three Real Madrid players. David Aganzo, president of Spanish footballers' union AFE, said players needed to be properly informed about what they were being asked to wear and why.

  5. background

    Real Madrid players wear rolled-up solidarity shirts against Elche — Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Ibrahima Konate rolled up shirts carrying the solidarity message during a La Liga match against Elche. Mbappe said he wanted to 'think about all the people who are suffering' and acknowledge migrants who had suffered or lost their lives during the crisis.

  6. background

    Asociacion Valenciana de Empresarios launches solidarity campaign — The non-profit business association AVE, chaired by businessman Vicente Boluda (a former interim Real Madrid president whose maritime group operates in Ceuta), launched a campaign describing it as an expression of solidarity with Ceuta's residents and businesses and a message of 'territorial and social cohesion in Spain'.