Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli is standing firm after wearing a pre-match T-shirt reading “Todos somos caballas” ahead of Betis’ clash with Villarreal, a gesture of solidarity with Ceuta that has drawn angry backlash from Moroccan social media users.
The controversy stems from a pre-match display before Real Betis’ LaLiga fixture against Villarreal at La Cerámica, during the fifth round of the Spanish season.
Players from both sides wore special T-shirts bearing the slogan “Todos somos caballas,” or “We are all from Ceuta,” referencing the local nickname for the city’s residents. The initiative was tied to a solidarity campaign for Ceuta following a mass irregular arrival of migrants from Morocco at the end of July. The campaign was promoted by Spanish civic and business groups, including the Association of Valencian Entrepreneurs, and was described as a message of solidarity and territorial cohesion.
The gesture drew criticism from Moroccan social media users, who viewed Ceuta—known locally as Sebta—as Moroccan territory under Spanish occupation. Abde, a Moroccan international with roughly 37 caps and two goals for his country, became the focal point of the backlash. Abde is widely regarded as a rising star of Moroccan football, which made the backlash against him especially intense. Some online commentary labeled the act a betrayal, with calls for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and national team coach to stop selecting him. Reports described an unprecedented wave of insults and threats directed at the player following the match.
Abde responded publicly, issuing a statement to clarify his position. He said the shirt carried no political objective and was not meant to disrespect Morocco or its people. He characterized the action as a social gesture aimed at supporting Ceuta’s population, regardless of nationality, during a difficult period. “This is not an apology to anyone,” he stated, rejecting calls to retract or apologize for his involvement.
He added that he intended to continue representing his roots with pride, despite the criticism. The incident has sparked broader debate in Morocco about players’ freedom of conscience versus contractual obligations to their clubs, with some commentators noting that Abde may have had limited ability to opt out of a club-organized, collective pre-match action.
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