Football has been involved in escalating tensions regarding the influx of migrants from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. On September 21, during La Liga’s Madrid derby, a banner was displayed in the Metropolitano Stadium’s south stand stating: “Ceuta es Espana. Ni se arruga, ni se tapa.” (Ceuta is Spain. It is neither rolled up, nor covered.) This was in reference to Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Ibrahima Konate, who previously rolled up shirts with a solidarity message related to Ceuta during a match against Elche, amidst growing political tensions between Spain and Morocco over the influx of migrants and refugees. In late July, a record 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco to Ceuta in two days, overwhelming local resources and creating a humanitarian crisis, with the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras documenting 141 deaths in the aftermath.
Mbappe stated that his gesture did not indicate a lack of support for Ceuta, expressing empathy for all those suffering. He emphasized the need to acknowledge migrants who have suffered or lost their lives during the crisis. Real Madrid later affirmed its respect for each player’s freedom to participate in the initiative. Conversely, Barcelona chose not to wear the shirts before their La Liga game against Levante. La Liga president Javier Tebas criticized the three Real Madrid players, asserting that he did not view the campaign as political, while David Aganzo, president of the Spanish footballers’ union AFE, suggested players should be better informed about the reasons behind the campaign.
During the derby, supporters from both teams united for two minutes, chanting “Ceuta no se vende, Ceuta se defiende” (Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta must be defended), before the usual rivalry resumed. Mbappe and Vinicius faced jeers from fans when Real’s starting XI was announced. Jorge Garcia, an Atletico Madrid supporter, described the players’ actions as “disrespectful” to Ceuta and Spain.
The campaign was initiated on September 11 by the Asociacion Valenciana de Empresarios (AVE), a non-profit business association, which framed the initiative as an expression of solidarity with Ceuta’s residents and businesses amid the migrant influx. AVE is chaired by Vicente Boluda, a former interim Real Madrid president. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente visited Ceuta with the World Cup trophy, stating: “This is Spain, this is Ceuta.” Real Madrid president Florentino Perez later clarified that his visit was planned prior to the controversy involving his players.
Youssef Temsamani, a Moroccan journalist based in Spain, noted the difficult position of the players, as wearing the shirt could be seen as a political statement, while not wearing it might suggest a lack of solidarity. He argued that discussions about solidarity with Ceuta should also include migrants and criticized certain political and media narratives that describe the crossings as an “invasion” or “occupation.” Luhay Hamido, president of AD Ceuta football club, defended players’ rights to make their own decisions regarding the campaign, suggesting that footballers may not always receive full explanations for such initiatives.
The scale of the crisis remains challenging to quantify. Spain’s Interior Ministry reported that 72,000 people crossed into Ceuta on July 30 and 31, with more than 70,000 returning to Morocco. Seven weeks later, the government estimated that 9,000 to 10,000 migrants remained in Ceuta, with RTVE reporting on September 20 that around 8,300 were being accommodated in various facilities while over 4,000 remained on the streets. The new temporary center at the port reached its capacity of 1,700 people shortly after opening.
Hamido indicated that the crisis had directly impacted AD Ceuta, with potential signings collapsing due to concerns from players and their families about the situation. He described the support from Spanish football as a source of strength and hope for Ceuta. In local neighborhoods, children were seen playing football, often wearing shirts of players with diverse backgrounds, emphasizing the human aspect of the crisis. Hamido remarked that ordinary people caught in the crisis should not be blamed.