Real Madrid comes under online backlash after Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahima Konaté appear to avoid fully displaying shirts supporting Ceuta before a LaLiga match against Elche at the Estadio José Zorrilla? (Martínez Valero Stadium, as cited). During the pre-match ceremony, players from both teams are presented with white shirts reading “Todos somos caballas” (“We are all Caballas”) as part of a solidarity initiative.
Multiple reports say the Real Madrid trio carried or wore the shirts in ways that concealed the slogan. Video and images circulating online show Vinícius appearing to demonstrate how to wear the shirt so the message does not show. Mbappé and Vinícius are also reported to remove the shirts before the handshake line with officials and the opposing team, while Konaté is said to keep his shirt on initially but not display the full text.
The controversy centers on the fact that the campaign has LaLiga support and is accepted by Real Madrid. Real Madrid reportedly allows players to decide individually whether to wear the shirts, pointing to differing views within the squad. The issue plays out amid wider attention on Ceuta, after a major migration crisis in July, which has increased scrutiny of the slogan’s political and symbolic meaning.
