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Ultras Sur demands apologies over Madrid players’ partially rolled-up Ceuta shirts

Mbappe said he supported Ceuta residents and migrants facing hardship, while La Liga president Javier Tebas criticised the three players.

The short version

  • Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate partially rolled up shirts supporting Ceuta before Real Madrid’s Tuesday match at Elche.[Al Jazeera · Al Jazeera]
  • Ultras Sur demanded public apologies on Wednesday. La Liga president Javier Tebas also criticised the players’ handling of the shirts.[Al Jazeera]
  • Mbappe told AS he supported Ceuta and all victims, while also acknowledging migrants who had died or were living in difficult conditions.[Al Jazeera]
  • Possible sanctions remain unclear. FIFA said disciplinary decisions belonged to La Liga, the Spanish football federation and UEFA; those bodies did not respond to Al Jazeera.[Al Jazeera]

Key facts

  • The three players wore the tribute shirts partially rolled up before Real Madrid’s 3-2 La Liga win at Elche on Tuesday.[Al Jazeera]
  • Ultras Sur demanded public apologies in a statement posted on X late Wednesday.[Al Jazeera]
  • Mbappe told AS that his gesture expressed concern for migrants alongside solidarity with Ceuta and all victims.[Al Jazeera]
  • Representatives of Spain’s Popular Party and Vox criticised the incident.[France 24]
  • Real Madrid declined to comment when contacted by AFP.[France 24]

What remains uncertain

  • The reporting does not establish whether sanctions will follow. FIFA referred disciplinary questions to La Liga, the Spanish football federation and UEFA, which did not respond to Al Jazeera.[Al Jazeera]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.