'Todos somos caballas': Why Kylian Mbappe is under fire over a t-shirt

LaLiga - Elche v Real Madrid - Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, Elche, Spain - September 15, 2026. Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe rolls up his t-shirt displaying a slogan in solidarity with the people of Ceuta

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has come under criticism from conservative and far-right politicians in Spain and France after he did not fully wear a t-shirt supporting residents of Ceuta, Spain's North African territory that is dealing with a migration crisis.Immigration has become one of the biggest political issues in Spain in recent months after a large number of migrants entered Ceuta in July. The debate has also reached football ahead of next year's parliamentary elections.The controversy began before Real Madrid's LaLiga match against Elche on Tuesday. Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and fellow French player Ibrahima Konate partially rolled up t-shirts carrying the message "We are all Ceutans", which was meant to show support for people living in Ceuta, a Spanish territory bordering Morocco.Pictures of the three players quickly spread on social media and drew political reactions.A spokesperson for Spain's opposition Popular Party (PP) said she felt "deep shame" over the incident, while a lawmaker from the far-right Vox party said Spaniards were "perfectly free to feel outraged by three millionaires who live in Spain and then do not support Spaniards".Ultras Sur, a Real Madrid supporters' group linked to the far right and banned from the Santiago Bernabéu, called the players' actions "unacceptable" and demanded public apologies.

The incident comes after more than 70,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31 in a large influx that left scores dead and triggered disagreement within the European Union over immigration.Most migrants returned within hours, but thousands remained in difficult conditions in the city, staying in temporary shelters and makeshift camps. The situation has led to protests by local residents, some of which have been supported by far-right groups.Responding to the criticism, Mbappe said he stood with the people of Ceuta while also remembering migrants who lost their lives."I was in complete solidarity with Ceuta and all the victims.""But I also wanted to make a gesture and express my thoughts for all the immigrants who have lost their lives and who are also living in difficult conditions," he told sports daily AS.

Real Madrid also defended its players' right to make their own decision over wearing the t-shirts.Before the match, both Real Madrid and Elche players came out wearing shirts with the slogan "Todos somos caballas" ("We are all mackerels"), with caballas being a nickname for people from Ceuta.Mbappe and Vinicius rolled up their shirts so the message was not visible before removing them as they left the tunnel, while Konate held his shirt in his hands.A Real Madrid official was quoted as saying Reuters that the club agreed to Elche's request to show solidarity with Ceuta but respected different opinions within the squad and allowed each player to decide whether or not to wear the shirt.