The campaign “Todos somos caballas” has thrust a gesture of solidarity between the Asociación Valenciana de Empresarios (AVE) and the autonomous city of Ceuta directly into the center of professional football, sparking debate after a series of high-profile player reactions during recent La Liga fixtures.
Origins of the “Todos somos caballas” Movement
Promoted as a direct show of solidarity with Ceuta and its local business community, the campaign emerged in the wake of a severe migration crisis that began at the end of July, when tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco through the Tarajal border.
The phrase “caballas”—derived from the local name for the mackerel, a staple of Ceuta’s maritime culture—serves as the popular nickname for the city’s residents. Organizers designed the campaign motto, meaning “Ceuta is not alone,” to project institutional backing and economic support across the Strait of Gibraltar. Vicente Boluda, president of AVE and head of Boluda Corporación Marítima, leads the business association.
How La Liga Clubs Responded on the Pitch
The campaign rapidly expanded from corporate boardrooms into stadiums across Spanish football. The Villarreal CF and the Real Betis Balompié were among the first to announce public adherence, wearing the commemorative shirts during their league encounter.
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Subsequent fixtures saw the Elche CF and the Real Madrid CF adopt the warm-up shirts. However, division surfaced on the pitch when several players elected not to display the messaging. During Real Madrid’s match against Elche at the Martínez Valero stadium, Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Júnior, and Ibrahima Konaté carried the shirts partially folded and removed them immediately after taking the field. Similarly, the FC Barcelona squad opted not to wear the campaign jerseys during their visits to stadiums in the Valencian Community, such as their match against Elche CF at the Ciutat de València.
Player Reactions and Wider Political Fallout
While the footballers who altered their participation have not issued public explanations, sources indicated that the reluctance of players like Vinicius, Mbappé, and Konaté stems from sensitivity regarding social and political positioning, particularly concerning anti-racism advocacy. The gesture also follows prior controversy surrounding the same shirt; Real Betis player Ez Abde previously faced online hostility and threats originating from Morocco after wearing the garment.
The involvement of Vicente Boluda has also added a layer of historical football context to the initiative. Boluda previously served as the interim president of Real Madrid between January and May of 2009 following the resignation of Ramón Calderón. Despite his past leadership at the club and ongoing maritime business operations on both sides of the strait—including terminal partnerships in Tangier—promoters maintain the campaign remains strictly focused on regional support for Ceuta.
What Comes Next
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