Controversy surrounding the gesture of Mbappé and two Real Madrid teammates during the match against Elche

The controversy has only grown in just twenty-four hours. The laborious dimension of Real Madrid's victory on the Elche pitch (3-2), Tuesday September 15, was not retained as the key element of the sixth day of La Liga. Kylian Mbappé put on the costume of the savior by scoring Madrid's second goal, then giving the assist on the victory in added time, but it is his pre-match outfit that is causing a lot of talk.

When entering the pitch, the twenty-two starting players presented themselves with a white t-shirt on which was written "Todos somos Caballas" ("We are all Mackerels" in French, in reference to the nickname of the inhabitants of the autonomous city of Ceuta). For their part, Kylian Mbappé, Ibrahima Konaté and Vinicius Junior had made the decision to only half put on this tunic which was worn during other La Liga matches in recent days to support the inhabitants of Ceuta - a Spanish enclave in the north of Morocco -, in the midst of a migration crisis. Tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco tried to force their way at the end of July.

The Spanish football boss did not appreciate the gesture

The choice of the three Madrid players triggered a wave of criticism, including that of Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga. "What do I think of the gesture of the Real Madrid players? It's bad. Refusing to put on the full t-shirt is like not putting it on. These are institutional actions, not individual actions where you can give your personal opinion," he said on Wednesday.

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Kylian Mbappé then decided to explain his gesture in an interview for the Spanish media As. "The first thing I want to say is that I am fully in solidarity with Ceuta and all the victims. Because before being an athlete, I am a human being. But I also wanted to make a gesture and have a thought for all the migrants who lost their lives [77 dead according to the Commission of Forensic Physicians] and who are also faced with difficult conditions," said first asked the captain of the France team.

“I want to send a message of positivity and peace, and I hope this situation is resolved quickly.”

Kylian Mbappé

to Ace

"It was not an easy position to adopt. People might think that I am against the people of Ceuta, but no, absolutely not. I have nothing against them and I support them 100%. But I also wanted to have a thought for all the people who are suffering, because I am human and I don't want to favor one form of suffering over another. There are people who are suffering, and it breaks my heart to see this happening in the world," Kylian explained. Mbappé.

Monday evening, Moroccan international Abde Ezzalzouli was targeted on social networks for having worn the support t-shirt in Ceuta. Accused by some of betraying his people, the Betis winger also had to justify himself on Tuesday. “I want to clarify one thing: at no time was the jersey which referred to the inhabitants of Ceuta used for political purposes or out of contempt for my people, the Moroccan people (...). I will continue to keep my head high and represent my roots with pride and (sense of) sacrifice,” he wrote on his Instagram account.