Ceuta head coach Jose Juan Romero has spoken out emotionally against the lack of support for the Spanish enclave during its ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Speaking with a broken voice in his latest press appearance, the manager expressed deep disappointment with Spain and criticized national authorities and football body La Liga for failing to assist the city.
Romero said he was disappointed with his country and argued that La Liga should be far more humanitarian toward one of its member clubs. He noted that the league possesses significant potential and a major platform that ought to be used to defend its teams during severe hardship.
The manager detailed how the emergency had directly impacted his players, explaining that Ceuta squad members were caught in the middle of a movement of migrants and border crossings while travelling. He said players were forced to get out of their vehicles during delays where some were stopped or mistaken for others, adding that these were real situations that could not be hidden.
Impact on football squad
Romero highlighted what he described as a complete lack of reciprocal support from the rest of Spain. He pointed out that the city of Ceuta had previously rallied to help other regions, including sending assistance to Valencia during the DANA flood disaster and aiding Las Palmas, but was now receiving zero support in return.
Recounting a personal moment from the previous day, Romero shared that an elderly woman had approached him and his wife in the street, weeping as she thanked him for speaking up for the city. The coach said he was moved to tears by the encounter, reiterating his belief that there was very little humanity being shown toward the local population.
Call for solidarity and action
Romero affirmed that he stood by statements he made the previous week despite the public stir they caused, stating that nothing in the city had changed. He declared that Ceuta remained in a catastrophic situation and warned that a country lacking solidarity in key moments would ultimately get what it deserved.
Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city situated on the North African coast, sharing a border with Morocco. AD Ceuta FC competes within the Spanish professional football league system under the governance of La Liga.
Despite the severity of the crisis, Romero emphasized that the team would continue to compete on the pitch. He noted that while the situation in the city transcended sports, non-sporting challenges could not be used as an excuse for performances on the field.
