Real Madrid fan group demands Mbappe apology for Ceuta shirt snub

Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Ibrahima Konate wore a tribute shirt partially rolled up ahead of Madrid’s 3-2 win at Elche in La Liga.

A Real Madrid supporters’ group has demanded a public apology from Kylian Mbappe and two teammates after they declined to fully wear a T-shirt in support of the people of Ceuta.

Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate wore a tribute shirt partially rolled up ahead of Madrid’s 3-2 win at Elche on Tuesday in La Liga.

“We are certain that every Real Madrid supporter and every Spaniard is ashamed of the image given by these three individuals,” Ultras Sur said in a statement posted on X late on Wednesday, describing their conduct as “unacceptable”.

The group, which is often associated with the far-right, called for “public apologies” and criticised the silence of Real Madrid President Florentino Perez, with whom it has been at odds since being banned from the Santiago Bernabeu more than a decade ago.

La Liga President Javier Tebas on Wednesday criticised the three Madrid players for not properly wearing the T-shirt, saying “putting it half on is the same as not wearing it”.

The rest of the team and Elche players wore the T-shirt properly. It brandished the words “we are all Ceutans”, intended to be a message of support for people in the Spanish territory in North Africa recently affected by a migration crisis.

Residents have complained about migrants from Morocco camping on beaches and sleeping in the streets, with the city overwhelmed amid a humanitarian crisis. Scores of people died while attempting the crossing in July.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights, a nongovernmental group, estimates at least 141 died.

Mbappe said that he wanted to make a gesture in support of those who had lost their lives.

“The first thing I want to say is that I have complete solidarity with Ceuta and all the victims,” he told the Spanish daily sports newspaper, AS.

“But I also wanted to make a gesture and express my thoughts for all the immigrants who have lost their lives and who are also living in difficult conditions.”

Tens of thousands of migrants arrived in Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31 .

Most returned hours after they arrived, but several thousand remained in Ceuta, where deteriorating conditions have fuelled tensions with local residents.