French far-right politicians attacked Kylian Mbappé after he defended expressing solidarity with both Ceuta’s residents and migrants, following a dispute over a shirt worn before Real Madrid’s match against Elche on Tuesday.
Mbappé, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konaté wore the shirts only partially, obscuring a message supporting residents of the Spanish-administered city after recent mass migrant crossings.
The France captain told Spanish newspaper AS that clubs had decided players should wear the shirts. He said he fully supported Ceuta and all victims but also wanted to acknowledge migrants who had died or were living in difficult conditions.
He said he did not want to “rank suffering.”
National Rally spokesman Julien Odoul described his conduct as thuggish, while party lawmaker Kévin Mauvieux wrote on X: “If shame had a face, it would be Kylian Mbappé’s.”
France Unbowed coordinator Manuel Bompard defended the player, saying solidarity with Ceuta’s residents need not exclude migrants. “His stance does him credit,” he wrote.
Mbappé has previously opposed the National Rally’s rise to power and defended his right to speak as a citizen.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.