The friction stems from a social and territorial cohesion initiative launched by the Valencian Business Association (AVE) on September 11, 2026, according to reporting by El Periodico. The campaign, which features the white shirts bearing the slogan “Todos somos caballas. Ceuta y sus caballeros de la mar,” was designed to show solidarity with the North African autonomous city following a massive influx of Moroccan migrants in late July.
How La Liga Matches Became the Focal Point for Ceuta Solidarity
La Liga agreed to incorporate the campaign shirts during the fifth and sixth matchdays for fixtures played within the Valencian Community. This arrangement included regional clubs such as Levante, Villarreal, and Elche, while visiting sides like Real Madrid and Real Betis also agreed to back the initiative. However, execution on the pitch varied widely across clubs and players.
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During a fixture between Barcelona and Levante at the Ciutat de Valencia, Levante players took the pitch wearing the Ceuta support shirts, while Barcelona players opted to wear their standard match kits, declining to participate in the initiative, as reported by El Periodico. Similarly, Real Sociedad players did not wear the garments during their match against Valencia.
Player Responses and Social Media Backlash
Real Madrid stars Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Ibrahima Konate found a middle ground during their match in Elche by choosing to knot the “Todos somos caballas” shirts above their waists rather than wearing them fully extended. Meanwhile, Real Betis’s Moroccan midfielder Abde wore the shirt as a starter against Villarreal but subsequently faced a wave of online insults and threats.
Abde released a statement responding to the backlash, affirming that he had nothing to justify, that the gesture was strictly rooted in solidarity rather than politics, and emphasizing his absolute commitment to his home country. Real Madrid adopted a hands-off approach, with club sources indicating that players were entirely free to wear whatever they chose and would not be forced into displaying extradeportive messages.
Fan Reactions and the Wider Cultural Impact
The sentiment surrounding the autonomous city deepened away from the pitch as well. Ahead of an encounter against Inter Milan, the Grada Fans sector in the south stand of the Santiago Bernabéu displayed a massive mosaic constructed entirely of Ceuta flags. Real Madrid noted in an official club communication that the gesture highlighted solidarity with the enclave, which holds special significance as the birthplace of club honorary president Jose Martinez ‘Pirri’.
As the debate continues to ripple across Spanish sporting circles, clubs prepare for their upcoming league fixtures amid heightened scrutiny over how athletes and supporters express socio-political solidarity.
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