LAGOS SEPTEMBER 17TH(NEWSRANGERS)-Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior refused to display a message of support for a Spanish exclave affected by a major migration crisis.
Real Madrid’s 3-2 La Liga win at Elche on Tuesday night was preceded by both sets of players sporting T-shirts expressing solidarity with Ceuta, a Spanish territory which shares a border with Morocco in North Africa.
Mbappé, Vinícius and Ibrahima Konaté had their shirts rolled up to their chests, which obscured the slogan “Todos somos Caballas“, translated as “We are all Ceutans”.
France captain Mbappé and Vinícius, the Brazil forward, also took off the shirts before shaking hands with their opponents, who kept theirs on.
A Real Madrid official said the club accepted Elche’s request to show such support in solidarity and wear the shirts, but as an organisation they respected differing opinions and gave each player the freedom to choose whether to wear the shirt.
The initiative was organised a week after scores of Real Madrid fans waved Ceutan flags at the Bernabéu during the club’s 2-1 Champions League win against Inter Milan.
Supporters also chanted: “Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta is defended.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Morocco and Real Betis winger Ez Abde said he would not apologise for wearing a T-shirt with the same “Todos somos Caballas” slogan during his side’s win at Villarreal the previous night.
The 24-year-old was targeted by a wave of negative comments after joining team-mates and opponents in donning the shirt.
Ez Abde said he wanted to show support for the Ceuta community – Disney+
“At no point was the shirt referring to the people of Ceuta used with a political purpose or as a sign of disrespect toward my people, the Moroccan people,” Abde wrote on Instagram.
“It was a shirt with a social purpose, intended to support a community.
“That said, this is not an apology to anyone, and anyone who wishes to use this to question my love for my country is free to do so. I will continue to live each day with my head held high.”
La Liga and Real Betis both posted messages of support for Abde after his statement.
In recent weeks, there has been widespread backing in Spain for the people of Ceuta following more than 70,000 irregular crossings into the exclave from neighbouring Morocco in July.
Earlier this month, Spanish prosecutors said 23 sexual assaults involving migrants had been recorded in Ceuta since the mass crossings began. Crime, it was claimed, had increased eightfold since July 30.
Telegraph
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