Sport · Singapore Bureau
Moroccan footballer Abde defends Ceuta solidarity gesture amid backlash
Real Betis winger Ez Abde has refused to apologise for wearing a shirt expressing support for residents of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, despite facing criticism on social media following a LaLiga match.
LSN Singapore ·
Morocco international Ez Abde said on Tuesday he stands by his decision to don a shirt supporting residents of Ceuta, the Spanish-controlled North African enclave, rejecting calls for an apology after the gesture drew social media criticism.
The Real Betis winger made the statement following his team's LaLiga encounter against Villarreal, where the shirt wearing sparked online debate among supporters and observers.
Abde's defiant stance underscores the sensitive geopolitical tensions surrounding Ceuta, which Morocco claims as its own territory. The enclave has long been a point of contention between Madrid and Rabat, with competing sovereignty claims dating back centuries.
The incident highlights how football remains intertwined with political and territorial disputes in the region, with athletes occasionally using their platforms to express solidarity with causes aligned with their national positions.
Abde's refusal to distance himself from the gesture suggests he views the matter as a principled stand rather than a momentary lapse in judgment, despite the online backlash.