Ez Abde, a Moroccan international player who plays for Betis, was targeted with insults and threats after wearing a shirt in support of Ceuta. The Spanish city in North Africa has been a topic of debate in Spain, and Abde's gesture provoked a strong negative reaction on social media.
The player was specifically called a traitor by users who discovered his post. The wave of hate was intense enough to lead Abde to take the decision to delete his Instagram account, in an attempt to protect himself from the threats received.
This case comes at a time of tension around the issue of Ceuta and the relations between Spain and North Africa. Abde's public support for the Spanish cause was interpreted by some as a controversial position, given his Moroccan nationality.
