Mbappe Clarifies Ceuta Shirt Incident, Says He Stands With Both Ceuta and Migrants

Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Mbappe Clarifies Ceuta Shirt Incident, Says He Stands With Both Ceuta and Migrants
Real Madrid forward, Kylian Mbappe has clarified his actions after he and two teammates appeared to cover up a solidarity message for Ceuta before a La Liga match.

Ahead of Tuesday’s league game at Elche, players were handed T-shirts with the inscription “Todos somos Caballas” (We are all Caballas) — Caballas being a nickname for indigenes of Ceuta, the Spanish enclave.

Mbappe, alongside teammates Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate, was seen rolling up the shirt to obscure the message, an act that drew criticism.

Reacting to the incident, Mbappe said his gesture was not against the people of Ceuta.

According to BBC Sport, the French star stated: “The first thing I want to say is that I stand in full solidarity with Ceuta and with all the victims. Because before I’m a player, I’m a human being. But I also wanted to make a gesture and spare a thought for all the immigrants who have lost their lives and who are also living in harsh conditions.”

He added that he supports the people of Ceuta “100%” but did not want to prioritize one form of suffering over another.

“I have nothing against them, and I support them 100% in my thoughts. But I also wanted to spare a thought for all the people who are suffering… I aim to send a message of positivity and peace, and I hope this situation is resolved quickly,” he said.

The solidarity initiative follows a humanitarian crisis in Ceuta, where more than 100 people reportedly died during a mass crossing from Morocco into the enclave in late July. While thousands crossed, with many later returning, an estimated 5,000 migrants remain in makeshift camps on the city’s streets and beaches.

Real Madrid had previously shown support for Ceuta during their Champions League clash with Inter Milan on September 8, when fans displayed cards bearing the autonomous city’s coat of arms.

The pre-match campaign has divided opinion in La Liga, with Barcelona notably not participating in the initiative.

Source: Punchng.com