Moroccan international Abde Ezzalzouli has responded to the controversy surrounding his decision to wear a shirt carrying the message “TODOS SOMOS CABALLAS” before Real Betis’ match against Villarreal.
The incident occurred ahead of the La Liga meeting, with the shirt displaying the Spanish phrase meaning “We are all Ceuta”. Its appearance triggered debate among Moroccan supporters because of the sensitivity surrounding Ceuta and its status in Morocco’s public consciousness.
Ezzalzouli was among players from both teams who took part in an initiative connected to a message of solidarity with people living in Ceuta.
The initiative was presented in a social and humanitarian context, focusing on the difficult circumstances experienced by residents of the city. However, Ezzalzouli’s involvement quickly attracted attention and led to questions over the meaning of his participation.
The Real Betis player has now addressed the issue himself, using his social media accounts to explain his position and reject suggestions that the shirt had a political meaning.
Ezzalzouli rejects political interpretation
Ezzalzouli said his decision to wear the shirt was not intended to carry a political message and was not aimed at offending Moroccan people or causing hurt to their feelings.
The Morocco international explained that his participation was motivated by humanitarian and social considerations. He said the message was intended to express solidarity with people in the region who are experiencing difficult conditions.
His clarification came as Moroccan supporters remained divided over the incident, with some viewing the initiative solely through its humanitarian context while others believed the player should have considered the sensitivity surrounding the message.
Ezzalzouli also made clear that he did not regard his statement as an apology to anyone.
Instead, he reaffirmed his pride in his origins and roots and stressed his willingness to stand by them with pride and sacrifice.
The player also acknowledged that people who disagreed with his position were entitled to their opinions. He said questioning his love for his country was a matter for others to decide, while maintaining that he did not believe his attachment to Morocco and his origins needed to be demonstrated.
Moroccan fans divided by incident
The controversy began after images of Ezzalzouli wearing the shirt emerged before the match with Villarreal.
For some Moroccan supporters, the message was viewed as a straightforward humanitarian gesture linked to the initiative involving players from the two Spanish clubs.
Others, however, felt that the Moroccan international should have been more cautious because of the political and national sensitivity associated with Ceuta.
The disagreement placed Ezzalzouli at the centre of a debate that extended beyond the football match itself.
By issuing his own clarification, the Real Betis player sought to explain the circumstances behind his participation and remove what he described as ambiguity surrounding the incident.
His statement has now provided his interpretation of the events, while attention turns to whether the controversy will ease following his explanation.
Ezzalzouli remains one of the players closely followed by Moroccan supporters, meaning his actions away from the pitch continue to attract considerable interest among the country’s football audience.
