July 22 – UEFA has stepped into the Gibraltar-Spain row by opening disciplinary proceedings into Spain’s Euro 24-winning captain Alvaro Morata and player of the tournament Rodri.
The move comes after the Gibraltar FA filed a formal complaint over Spanish players reportedly chanting ‘Gibraltar is Spanish’ during their Euro 24 celebrations in Madrid after beating England 2-1. The chanting is said to have been led by Morata and Rodri.
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory and also an independent UEFA member but its status has long been a sensitive political issue, with some in Spain believing Britain’s control is illegal.
The chanting provoked outrage in Gibraltar and UEFA says a disciplinary inspector “is being appointed to evaluate a potential violation” of its rules by two players.
UEFA gave no timetable for a possible case which could see the pair suspended from Nations League games in September.
During Euro 2024 in Germany, UEFA banned Albania’s Mirlind Daku for two games after leading fans in nationalist chants against Serbia and North Macedonia.
The Government of Gibraltar as well as the Rock’s chief minister Fabian Picardo also slapped down Rodri’s and Morata’s remarks.
In its statement, the Gibraltar Government said: “His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar is disappointed to note that several players of the Spanish male national football team celebrated their European Cup win with chants of rancid remarks about Gibraltar.”
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