Real Madrid Players Spark Controversy Over Ceuta Solidarity Shirts

Three prominent Real Madrid players, Kylian Mbappé, Ibrahima Konaté, and Vinícius Júnior, refused to wear pro-Ceuta solidarity shirts before a match against Elche, sparking controversy. The shirts bore the slogan 'We are all Caballas,' a show of support for the locals of Ceuta, an autonomous city of Spain in North Africa. This move comes after a migrant crisis in Ceuta, where 72,000 illegal migrants rushed into the city, causing chaos. Real Madrid had previously shown support for Ceuta, but the players' decision not to wear the shirts has added to the controversy. Moroccan soccer player Abdessamad Ezzalzouli faced similar backlash for wearing a similar shirt during a match, receiving threats and vitriol from his compatriots. Ezzalzouli stated that the shirt was a social gesture to support the residents of Ceuta, regardless of their nationality.