Real Madrid: Javier Tebas criticizes Mbappé, Vinicius and Konaté

Javier Tebas reacted to the three Madrid players' gesture before Elche-Real Madrid and voiced his disapproval

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Real Madrid: Javier Tebas criticizes Mbappé, Vinicius and Konaté

The controversy surrounding the message of support for Ceuta continues to make headlines in Spain, this time with a very clear reaction from Javier Tebas.

The debate is showing no signs of dying down in Spain. Before Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory away to Elche, Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konaté stood out during the initiative supporting the people of Ceuta organized around this LaLiga fixture.

The players from both teams had been given a T-shirt bearing the message “ We are all Caballas”. Mbappé and Vinicius wore theirs rolled up, so that the inscription was not fully visible, before quickly taking them off. Konaté, meanwhile, kept his in his hands. The sequence immediately sparked numerous reactions in Spain.

Javier Tebas did not approve

Asked about the incident, LaLiga president Javier Tebas clearly disapproved of the attitude of the three Madrid players.

“We have already seen that three players decided not to wear the T-shirt because wearing it halfway is the same as not wearing it. That seems wrong to me. These are institutional acts, acts of the club. They are not personal acts in which you have to express your personal opinion; we do not even allow that.”

He then emphasized how he interpreted the initiative:

“But this was none of those things: it was not an act of any kind, nor was it a political statement. Even less so on the part of Real Madrid.”

He therefore presents it as an institutional and social position, even though the issue of Ceuta remains particularly sensitive in the public debate between Spain and Morocco.

Real Madrid defends its players’ freedom

At the Madrid club, the tone is different. According to information reported by El Chiringuito, Real Madrid had accepted the initiative proposed before the match but allowed each of its players to act according to their own sensitivities.

Journalist Marcos Benito explained:

“Real Madrid respects the opinion and sensitivity of each of its employees. No one can be forced to do something they do not think or believe in.”

On the pitch, Los Merengues eventually secured a 3-2 win at Elche, notably thanks to a late goal from Carlos Espí, who has already made a decisive impact at the start of this season. The young striker once again came to the rescue, allowing Real Madrid to move up to second place. But the day after the match, the controversy surrounding the three players continues to largely overshadow the sporting result.