Immigration has emerged as one of Spain's dominant political issues in recent months following July's influx to Ceuta, and the debate has increasingly spilled into football ahead of next year's parliamentary elections. The dispute erupted before Real Madrid's La Liga match on Tuesday when Mbappe, alongside Vinicius Junior and fellow Frenchman Ibrahima Konate, partially rolled up t-shirts bearing the words "We are all Ceutans", which was intended to be a message of support for people in the Spanish territory bordering Morocco. Images of the three players quickly spread on social media and prompted political reactions in Madrid.
A spokesperson for the mainstream conservative 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 Bernabeu, described the players' actions as "unacceptable" and called for public apologies. Last week, an journalist witnessed several hundred ultras gathered outside the stadium chanting "Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta must be defended!" before the 2-1 Champions League win over Inter Milan.
The club declined to comment on the matter when contacted by AFP. More than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31 in an unprecedented, chaotic surge that left scores dead and sparked European Union infighting over the sensitive topic of immigration. Most returned in the following hours, but thousands remained in precarious conditions in the small, overwhelmed city, sleeping rough or in makeshift tents.
Deteriorating conditions have fuelled tensions with local residents and regular protests, some of which have been embraced by far-right groups. Responding to the criticism, Mbappe told sports daily AS he 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 said.
Mbappe has previously spoken out on issues beyond football, including racism and opposition to France's far-right National Rally (RN). French far-right figures also criticised the France captain's gesture, with RN spokesperson Julien Odoul condemning his behaviour, while European Parliament member Marion Marechal questioned why public figures showed solidarity with migrants but not Europeans affected by the crisis. The row has become entwined with Spain's broader political debate over migration, with the PP and Vox accusing Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government of failing to protect Spanish sovereignty in Ceuta.
Sanchez has defended a more open approach to irregular immigration in contrast with tougher policies promoted by European peers. This year his government launched a scheme to grant legal status to irregular migrants already living in Spain that is expected to benefit around 500,000 people, mostly Latin Americans.
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