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La Liga OKs Real Madrid’s Ceuta-solidarity shirts

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 10:41 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Mbappé Shows Solidarity

Real Madrid stars Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahima Konaté partially covered a Ceuta-solidarity shirt before Tuesday’s match.
The white shirts read “Todos somos caballas,” meaning “We are all mackerels,” a nickname for Ceuta residents.
La Liga, Real Madrid and Elche approved the gesture under standard pre-match procedures.
Moroccan winger Abde Ezzalzouli wore the same shirt for Real Betis, describing it as a social, not political, gesture.

Summary

Espi Scores Winner

Real Madrid beat Elche 3-2 in La Liga with a stoppage-time winner.
Carlos Espi scored the decisive goal after Kylian Mbappé’s assist.
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid fans displayed a massive Ceuta-flag tifo in the southern stand during the previous Champions League match.
The club’s website confirmed there is no ban on showing Ceuta solidarity.

History

Historical Context

In March 1995 Spain granted Ceuta autonomous-city status, ending its attachment to the province of Cádiz and formalising its EU-integrated, low-tax regime. The move sparked Moroccan protests that faded by year-end, yet the city’s contested sovereignty persisted through the Franco era and ongoing border tensions. Today Real Madrid’s players wearing Ceuta-solidarity shirts echo that 1995 recognition.

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Mbappé Shows Solidarity

Real Madrid stars Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahima Konaté partially covered a Ceuta-solidarity shirt before Tuesday’s match.
The white shirts read “Todos somos caballas,” meaning “We are all mackerels,” a nickname for Ceuta residents.
La Liga, Real Madrid and Elche approved the gesture under standard pre-match procedures.
Moroccan winger Abde Ezzalzouli wore the same shirt for Real Betis, describing it as a social, not political, gesture.

1 / 3