Moroccan Footballer Ez Abde Faces Backlash for Supporting Ceuta

Abde Ezzalzouli, a winger for Real Betis and the Moroccan national football team, is facing significant backlash in his home country after participating in a show of solidarity with the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Ezzalzouli, who has previously been criticized in Israel for posting antisemitic content, found himself at the center of a storm in Morocco due to his involvement in a pre-match gesture.

Before a La Liga match between Real Betis and Villarreal, both Spanish clubs wore special shirts with the slogan "Todos somos Caballas," meaning "We are all from Ceuta." This gesture was intended to express solidarity with the residents of Ceuta. However, for Moroccan players like Ezzalzouli and Ilias Akhomach, this seemingly innocent act became a political minefield.

In Morocco, Ceuta is considered occupied territory and an integral part of the country, despite being under Spanish control. The sight of national team players wearing shirts expressing Spanish identity with the city ignited widespread anger on social media. Many fans accused Ezzalzouli of harming national honor and demonstrating disloyalty, with some calling for his immediate removal from the national team squad.

This controversy adds to existing tensions between Morocco and Spain over the status of Ceuta and Melilla in the sporting arena. Just a week prior, fans of Moroccan club Maghreb Fes displayed a large banner during an African Champions League match stating, "Ceuta and Melilla: Two cities, one homeland, Morocco."