Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate have drawn heavy criticism in Spain after deliberately concealing a message of support for the people of Ceuta during Real Madrid's match at Elche on Tuesday night. Real Madrid ultimately won the game 3-2, but the result was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the three players.
Players from both sides had walked out for the match wearing t-shirts carrying the phrase "Todos somos caballas" — "We are all mackerels," a colloquial term used to refer to the population of Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on Africa's northern coast that has been at the centre of an ongoing migration crisis involving Morocco. Rather than displaying the message, the three Real Madrid players pulled their shirts up under their armpits before stepping onto the pitch, obscuring the wording entirely. Mbappe and Vinicius later removed the garment altogether to shake hands with the match officials and opposing players.
The gesture quickly drew backlash across Spanish media, prompting Real Madrid to issue a public defence of the players. Speaking to outlets including television programme El Chiringuito, the club stated that it respects the opinions and personal sensitivities of each of its employees, framing the players' actions as a matter of individual choice rather than any official club stance on the issue.
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