Kylian Mbappé justifies the use of solidarity shirts for Ceuta

Real Madrid football star Kylian Mbappé has justified his handling of the solidarity shirts for the residents of the Spanish exclave of Ceuta.

In an interview with the Spanish sports newspaper "As" he reiterated his "full solidarity with Ceuta and all the victims." "But I also wanted to send a gesture and a thought to all the migrants who have lost their lives and who also live under harsh conditions," said the Frenchman.

Before Real Madrid's league game against FC Elche on Tuesday, it was agreed that the players would wear shirts with the inscription "Todos somos Caballas" ("We are all Caballas"). The inhabitants of Ceuta are called “Caballas”. Below it, in smaller font, was written: “Ceuta y sus caballeros de la mar” (“Ceuta and its Knights of the Sea”).

On July 30 and 31, more than 72,000 people walked or swam from Morocco to Ceuta. Most returned or were returned shortly afterwards. However, thousands remain in the Spanish exclave. Dozens of people died in the stampede.

Mbappé and his colleagues Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahima Konaté put the shirts on, but rolled the bottom hem up so far that the second lettering was covered. Before greeting the opposing players, they took off their shirts again.

Circles on the right-wing fringe, conservative circles and media outlets close to them criticized this as a lack of solidarity with the more than 80,000 residents of Ceuta. They also direct the same accusation at the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Explaining the action, Mbappé said it was a decision of the clubs to wear the jerseys. “We players had to wear it,” said the son of an Algerian mother and a Cameroonian father. "It wasn't an easy situation, but a difficult one," he said. He has nothing against the people of Ceuta and stands behind them one hundred percent. "But I also wanted to think of all the people who are suffering." He wanted to convey a message of positivity and peace and hoped that the situation would clear up quickly.