Real defend players’ Ceuta support

Real Madrid defended their players’ right to have differing opinions after forwards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr obscured a solidarity message for the people of Ceuta before Tuesday’s La Liga clash with Elche.

Both teams emerged wearing T-shirts reading “Todos somos caballas” (“We are all mackerels”) — caballas being a nickname for people from the Spanish territory of Ceuta.

However, Mbappe and Vinicius rolled their shirts up to chest height, rendering the message illegible, before removing them entirely as they exited the tunnel. Teammate Ibrahima Konate held his shirt in his hands.

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe, center, controls the ball during their La Liga match against Elche in Elche, Spain, on Tuesday.

Photo: AP

More than 70,000 irregular crossings into Ceuta from Morocco occurred in July, sparking solidarity movements across Spain.

A Real Madrid official said that the club accepted Elche’s request to show such support in solidarity and wear the shirts, but as an organization respect differing opinions and gave each player the freedom to choose whether or not to wear the shirt.

Real organized a tifo in their singing section on Tuesday last week in support of Ceuta for their UEFA Champions League match against Inter, with fans holding up placards of the Ceuta flag.

The T-shirt initiative was promoted by the Valencian Business Association. Barcelona decided not to wear them during their clash with Levante on Sunday.

On Monday, Moroccan international Ez Abde had received abusive comments on social media for sporting the shirt before Real Betis’ clash with Villarreal.

Abde said in a statement that he would not apologize for wearing it, and that the message was in support of a community and a social cause rather than of any political content.

On Tuesday, Real Madrid squandered a two-goal lead before substitute Carlos Espi struck in stoppage time to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory at Elche.

Real went 2-0 up inside 33 minutes through a Matias Dituro own goal and Kylian Mbappe, but second-half strikes from Abiel Osorio and Fer Nino hauled Elche level before Espi restored the visitors’ lead in the 91st minute.

Rayo Vallecano held on for a 2-1 victory at Butarque against Espanyol. Luis Rioja scored against his former side Alaves with 12 minutes to go to earn Valencia a 1-0 win in their first game under interim manager Oscar Sanchez.