Rabat – A provocative display involving Morocco’s national symbols took place ahead of Real Madrid’s clash with Inter Milan, with supporters identified as Ultras Sur burning Moroccan flags and an image of King Mohammed VI.
The footage also showed a depiction of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez alongside the Moroccan symbols.
A message accompanying the video claimed that the supporters were acting “in defense of Ceuta,” linking the display to the longstanding political sensitivity surrounding the Spanish-occupied city and Morocco’s territorial position.
The incident has drawn attention in Morocco, particularly because of the burning of the Moroccan flag and an image of the King. Such imagery goes beyond football rivalry and touches on broader tensions involving Ceuta, migration, and relations between Morocco and Spain.
Read also: Truth About Ceuta Is Coming to Light, and It Doesn’t Favor Spain’s Media
Why Ceuta?
The incident comes weeks after a major migration crisis in Ceuta, when tens of thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish-occupied city. The episode places renewed attention on Spain’s border arrangements with Morocco, with Spanish authorities later acknowledging Morocco’s role in helping contain the situation and facilitate the return of many migrants.
Spanish officials also publicly recognized the cooperation between the two countries as the situation gradually came under control.
Yet, the crisis provided an opportunity for far-right groups and political figures in Spain to intensify their criticism of Morocco, particularly over the status of Ceuta and Melilla.
Against this backdrop, the latest display by Ultras Sur adds another politically charged element to an already sensitive period in Morocco-Spain relations.
The timing of the display, shortly before a high-profile European fixture involving Real Madrid, has further amplified attention around the footage.
While the message presented the action as a defense of Ceuta, the use of Moroccan national symbols has given the protest a distinctly provocative character from a Moroccan perspective.
Read also: Ceuta and Melilla Will One Day Return to Us
