MADRID -- Kylian Mbappé has explained his obscuring of a T-shirt in support of Ceuta -- the Spanish city in the midst of a migration crisis -- ahead of a Real Madrid match on Tuesday, saying he doesn't "want to prioritize one form of suffering over another."
Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahima Konaté covered up part of the message on a T-shirt players were given ahead of the team's 3-2 LaLiga win at Elche, leading to criticism in the Spanish media and social media.
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Tensions in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the north African coast, grew in July when tens of thousands of people crossed the border from Morocco, leading to a humanitarian crisis and a heated debate over immigration.
LaLiga, Elche and Madrid agreed that players would wear the shirts -- bearing the words "We're all from Ceuta" and organized by a local business group -- before Tuesday's game, but Mbappé, Vinícius and Konaté rolled them up to their chests, so the message was partly obscured.
"I want to explain this clearly, so people understand," Mbappé said, in comments given to the newspaper Diario AS on Wednesday. "It was a decision made by the clubs, to wear the shirt. We players had to wear it. The first thing I want to say is that I stand in full solidarity with Ceuta and all the victims, because before being a player, I'm a human being.
"But I also wanted to acknowledge and show support for all the migrants who've lost their lives and those who face harsh conditions. It was a difficult position to be in, because people might think I'm against the people of Ceuta, but no, absolutely not. I have nothing against them, and I fully support them in my thoughts. However, I also wanted to acknowledge everyone who is suffering.
"Ultimately, I'm human, and I don't want to prioritize one form of suffering over another. There are people suffering, and it saddens me deeply to see that in the world. I am someone who wants the best for our world. I aim to send a message of positivity and peace, and I hope this is resolved quickly."
Mbappé's mother is of Algerian descent, while his father emigrated from Cameroon to France, where the striker was born in Paris.
On Monday, Real Betis forward Abde Ezzalzouli, who plays for Morocco, was criticized by some Moroccan fans after Betis and Villarreal wore T-shirts in support of Ceuta before their LaLiga game.
Abde, who moved with his family to Spain when he was a child, said on social media that he wouldn't apologize for wearing a shirt that he said had no political aim, nor intended to show "disdain for the Moroccan people."