Real Madrid leadership visits Ceuta to show institutional support amid regional crisis

Institutional delegation in Ceuta

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, honorary president José Martínez Sánchez "Pirri", and director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueño arrived in Ceuta on Friday, 18 September 2026. The club delegation landed by helicopter at approximately 11:30 and reached the Palacio de la Asamblea at 11:53, about 25 minutes behind the scheduled arrival time. Dozens of local residents and members of the Peña Madridista de Ceuta gathered outside the municipal building on Plaza de Nuestra Señora de África wearing Real Madrid and AD Ceuta jerseys. Ceuta president Juan Jesús Vivas greeted the delegation at the entrance before Pérez and Pirri signed the Assembly of Ceuta Book of Honor. In a speech inside the municipal hall, Pérez rejected suggestions that the trip was organized in response to news reports.

“I want to emphasize, so that there are no doubts, that this act of support for our honorary president, Pirri, we have been preparing with the president of Ceuta for several weeks and not because of any recent news.”

Addressing the pre-match shirt controversy

The visit followed an incident during the pre-match protocol of the league match between Elche and Real Madrid at the Estadio Martínez Valero. First-team players Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Konaté folded their warm-up shirts to conceal the slogan "Todos somos caballas", which was intended to convey solidarity with Ceuta. The players' actions prompted criticism from local supporters and a formal complaint from the Peña Madridista de Ceuta. Mbappé later explained his decision, stating that his intention was to acknowledge deceased migrants alongside expressing solidarity with the city. Real Madrid leadership maintained that individual players retain personal freedom of expression while the club institutionally supports Ceuta.

“The first thing I want to say is that I have full solidarity with Ceuta and with all the victims because before being a player I am human. But I also wanted to have a gesture and a thought for all the migrants who have lost their lives and who are also in harsh conditions.”

Regional crisis and sporting reactions

The delegation arrived as Ceuta manages an ongoing emergency that began in late July. During the morning of the visit, Spanish security forces transferred thousands of migrants to a temporary facility at Muelle de Poniente, located two kilometres from the municipal helipad where Pérez landed. The event follows previous gestures of support from the sporting sector, including a visit on 4 September 2026 by Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzán and Spain national team head coach Luis de la Fuente. In addition, the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid had previously displayed Ceuta flags and featured supporter chants supporting the autonomous city.

Institutional reception and local reactions

Inside the Palacio Autonómico, the club leadership met with members of the regional administration, including Ceuta Minister of Finance Kissy Chandiramani, who thanked Pérez for visiting the enclave. The reception included local sporting executives such as AD Ceuta president Luhay Hamido, Ceuta Football Federation president Antonio García Gaona, and Peña Madridista de Ceuta president Miguel Ángel Montano. Vivas praised Real Madrid for providing moral solidarity rather than a sporting match during a critical period for the autonomous city. Pirri, who was born near the town hall building and has a local football stadium named in his honour, delivered the closing remarks of the ceremony.

“I feel very proud to be caballa. Ceuta is part of my life and will always be in my heart. Long live Ceuta and long live its people!”