MADRID: A Real Madrid supporters’ group has demanded public apologies from Kylian Mbappe and two teammates after they did not fully wear a tribute shirt supporting the people of Ceuta.
Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate wore the shirts partially rolled up before Real Madrid’s 3-2 La Liga victory over Elche on Tuesday.
The shirts carried the message “we are all Ceutans” and were intended to show support for people in the Spanish territory in North Africa.
Ultras Sur criticised the three players in a statement posted on X on Wednesday.
“We are certain that every Real Madrid supporter and every Spaniard is ashamed of the image given by these three individuals,” the group said, describing their conduct as “unacceptable”.
The group also called for public apologies and criticised Real Madrid president Florentino Perez for not commenting on the incident.
Ultras Sur has been banned from the Santiago Bernabeu for more than a decade and has previously been at odds with Perez.
Tebas Also Criticises Players
La Liga president Javier Tebas also criticised the players for not properly wearing the tribute shirts.
“Putting it half on is the same as not wearing it,” Tebas said on Wednesday.
The rest of the Real Madrid squad and Elche players wore the shirts normally before the match.
The tribute was linked to the recent migration crisis in Ceuta. The Spanish territory has seen migrants from Morocco camp on beaches and sleep on streets as local authorities face pressure from the influx.
Several people died while attempting to cross to Ceuta in July. The Moroccan Association for Human Rights, a non-governmental organisation, estimates that at least 141 people died.
Mbappe Explains Gesture
Mbappe said he wanted to show solidarity with people affected by the situation in Ceuta.
“The first thing I want to say is that I have complete solidarity with Ceuta and all the victims,” Mbappe told Spanish newspaper AS.
He added that he also wanted to express his thoughts for migrants who had lost their lives or were living in difficult conditions.
Tens of thousands of migrants arrived in Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31.
Most returned to Morocco within hours, while several thousand remained in Ceuta. The worsening conditions have contributed to tensions between migrants and local residents.
