Kylian Mbappé faces fresh far-right attacks over Ceuta

Kylian Mbappé has again become a target for France’s far right after his decision not to fully wear shirts supporting the people of Ceuta. The France captain said he did not want to suggest that one group’s suffering mattered more than another’s, but the gesture has intensified an existing political dispute around him.

Several senior figures from the Rassemblement National attacked Mbappé during the presidential campaign. Eure MP Kévin Mauvieux described him in highly condemnatory terms, while party spokesman Julien Odoul criticised both Mbappé and Ibrahima Konaté for what he considered disrespect towards Ceuta’s victims. Marion Maréchal also called the gesture shameful and questioned why the players appeared to show solidarity with suffering outside Europe rather than with Europeans.

Mbappé rejected that interpretation in an interview with AS. He said he stood with Ceuta and all victims, while explaining that his gesture was intended to express support for migrants who had died while trying to reach the Spanish enclave. The controversy follows an incident on July 30 in which more than 70,000 people crossed the border from Morocco towards Ceuta after false information circulated, causing major diplomatic tensions in Europe. Most were later expelled, while the Moroccan Association for Human Rights said 141 migrants died attempting the journey.