In Madrid, during the La Liga derby on Sunday, a banner was displayed in the Metropolitano Stadium reading: “Ceuta es España. Ni se arruga, ni se tapa.” This sign highlighted the ongoing controversy involving Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Ibrahima Konate, who previously rolled up shirts with a solidarity message linked to Ceuta, a Spanish enclave amidst escalating tensions between Spain and Morocco over a surge of migrants.
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In late July, a record 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco to Ceuta in a two-day period, leading to a humanitarian crisis that overwhelmed local resources. The Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras reported 141 deaths among migrants before and after the crossings.
Mbappe and Konate have significant ties to Africa; Konate hails from a family that migrated from Mali to France, while Mbappe's parents are from Cameroon and Algeria. He stated that his support aimed to acknowledge all individuals suffering amid the crisis, noting, "I don’t want to prioritize the suffering of one group over another."
Real Madrid expressed respect for each player's decision regarding the initiative. However, Barcelona opted not to wear similar shirts before their La Liga match against Levante. La Liga president Javier Tebas criticized the players' actions, asserting that the campaign should not be viewed as political. David Aganzo, president of the Spanish footballers’ union AFE, emphasized the importance of educating players about the implications of their actions.
During the derby against Atletico Madrid, both sets of supporters briefly united in chanting “Ceuta no se vende, Ceuta se defiende,” before usual rivalries resumed. Mbappe and Vinicius faced booing from fans during the match, with some supporters like Jorge Garcia claiming their gesture was disrespectful to Ceuta and Spain.
The solidarity campaign originated from the Asociacion Valenciana de Empresarios (AVE) on September 11, aimed at supporting Ceuta’s residents amid the migrant crisis and promoting social cohesion in Spain. Vicente Boluda, a former interim president of Real Madrid and current AVE chairman, spearheaded the campaign.
Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente visited Ceuta with the World Cup trophy, reinforcing, “This is Spain, this is Ceuta.” Real Madrid president Florentino Perez characterized his visit to Ceuta as pre-planned and unrelated to the controversy involving his players.
Youssef Temsamani, a Moroccan journalist based in Spain, commented on the challenges players faced in navigating the political implications of their actions, suggesting that discussions about solidarity must include migrants themselves. Luhay Hamido, president of AD Ceuta football club, supported the right of players to choose whether to participate in the campaign, stating that individuals should not be coerced into supporting causes without understanding them.
The actual impact of the crisis remains hard to quantify. The Interior Ministry reported that more than 70,000 of the irregular migrants returned to Morocco after the initial influx, with estimates of 9,000 to 10,000 remaining in Ceuta weeks later. As of September 20, about 8,300 were housed in various facilities, while over 4,000 were still on the streets, revealing significant discrepancies in ongoing assessments.
Hamido noted the adverse effects of the crisis on the AD Ceuta club, with potential signings reconsidering due to safety concerns. However, he stated that support from Spanish football instills resilience among the people of Ceuta, declaring their city should not be overlooked.
In the neighborhoods where many migrants gathered, children continued to play football despite the challenges. In this climate, Hamido emphasized that ordinary people affected by the crisis are not to blame.