Kylian Mbappe has addressed the growing backlash over his decision to partially obscure a support shirt for Ceuta, insisting the gesture was intended as a message of solidarity for migrants rather than any disrespect towards residents of the Spanish enclave.
Mbappe, alongside teammates Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate, drew significant criticism after rolling the shirts up to their chests during pre match ceremonies ahead of Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Elche on Tuesday, obscuring the message printed on the garments.
The shirts, bearing the words "we are all Ceutans", had been organised by a group of Valencia based entrepreneurs and were worn by both clubs as a show of support for the north African territory, which has faced a severe humanitarian crisis following a mass migration influx from Morocco in July.
Residents in Ceuta have reported migrants camping on beaches and sleeping rough across the city amid overwhelmed local resources, with scores of people believed to have died attempting the crossing that month.
It was a difficult position to be in, because people might think I'm against the people of Ceuta, but no, absolutely not. I have nothing against them, and I fully support them in my thoughts. However, I also wanted to acknowledge everyone who is suffering.Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid forward
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights estimates the death toll at no fewer than 141.
Speaking to Diario AS, Mbappe was keen to stress his support for those affected in Ceuta before explaining his broader intentions.
"The first thing I want to say is that I stand in full solidarity with Ceuta and all the victims, because before being a player, I'm a human being," he said.
He went on to clarify the thinking behind the gesture itself, framing it as an attempt to acknowledge suffering on both sides of the crisis rather than take a position against either group.
"But I also wanted to acknowledge and show support for all the migrants who've lost their lives and those who face harsh conditions," he said.
Mbappe, whose own parents emigrated to France from Algeria and Cameroon, acknowledged the difficulty of the position he found himself in once the images circulated.
"It was a difficult position to be in, because people might think I'm against the people of Ceuta, but no, absolutely not. I have nothing against them, and I fully support them in my thoughts. However, I also wanted to acknowledge everyone who is suffering," he said.
He closed his explanation by calling for calm and resolution around the wider situation.
"Ultimately, I'm human, and I don't want to prioritise one form of suffering over another. There are people suffering, and it saddens me deeply to see that in the world. I am someone who wants the best for our world. I aim to send a message of positivity and peace, and I hope this is resolved quickly," he said.
La Liga president Javier Tebas had been among the most vocal critics of the trio's actions, comparing their choice to an outright refusal to participate.
"We saw three players decide not to wear it, putting it half on is the same as not wearing it, bad, bad," he told reporters.
Tebas also clarified the origins and status of the initiative itself, distancing the league from any political framing of the gesture. He confirmed the shirt campaign had been approved but not organised directly by La Liga, describing it as free of political intent, and noted that clubs playing outside fixtures involving Valencia region teams had not been asked to wear the tops at all.
Miguel Angel Montano, president of Real Madrid's official Ceuta supporters club, expressed disappointment at the trio's decision when speaking to Spanish radio station esRadio.
"We were very happy to see players wearing the t-shirts, because we need support, but we were baffled when we saw that these three players covered up the message," he said.
The controversy extended beyond Real Madrid's squad, with Real Betis and Morocco international Abde Ezzalzouli also facing criticism after wearing the shirt properly during his side's fixture against Villarreal on Monday.
Ezzalzouli defended his participation on social media, rejecting any suggestion the gesture carried political weight or disrespected Morocco.
"I want to make one thing clear, at no point was the t-shirt referring to the people of Ceuta used with a political objective or out of contempt for my people, the Moroccan people," he wrote, describing it instead as a social gesture of support for the city's population regardless of nationality.
Not every club participated in the campaign. Levante wore the shirts ahead of their match against Barcelona on Sunday, though the Catalan side chose not to take part themselves, while Villarreal and Real Betis both wore the tops without incident during their own meeting earlier in the week.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, will look to move past the controversy as they continue their domestic campaign, with a high profile derby against city rivals Atletico Madrid awaiting them this coming Sunday.