Real Madrid fan group seeks Mbappé apology over Ceuta shirt controversy

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Madrid: Real Madrid fan group Ultras Sur demanded public apologies from Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Jr, and Ibrahima Konaté for covering a shirt supporting Ceuta before Tuesday's LaLiga match against Elche.

The players partially covered the shirt with the inscription 'Todos somos caballas' ('We are all Ceutans'), although the majority of their teammates wore it completely before the match. The initiative aimed to express solidarity with Ceuta in the midst of a current migratory crisis.

Real Madrid said that it backed the solidarity campaign but acknowledged each player's right to choose whether to display the message. However, LaLiga president Javier Tebas criticized the three players, saying that wearing the shirt halfway was virtually the same as not wearing it.

Mbappé later clarified that his decision was not meant as a rejection of Ceuta. He expressed solidarity with the people of Ceuta and the victims of the crisis, while also recognizing migrants who have suffered or lost their lives.

The Ultras Sur organization then sought public apologies from the three players, calling their decision disgraceful. The group, which is barred from attending matches at the Santiago Bernabéu, has been linked to Spain's far right.

Real Madrid has defended its players' right to choose whether to wear the shirt or not.