UEFA has imposed one-match bans on Spanish footballers Rodri and Alvaro Morata after they were found guilty of chanting “Gibraltar is Spanish” during the Euro 2024 victory celebrations.
The sanctions were a response to a complaint filed by the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) regarding the players’ actions during the event held in Madrid on July 15, 2024.
The incident in Madrid
The controversy erupted during the Spanish national team’s celebration of their Euro 2024 win over England, held at Cibeles Square in Madrid. Rodri, who was named Player of the Tournament, took the microphone and led the crowd in chanting “Gibraltar is Spanish.” Alvaro Morata then joined in, prompting an official complaint from the GFA. The chants were deemed “extremely provocative and insulting” by the GFA, which expressed its disapproval to UEFA.
Gibraltar FA’s reaction
The GFA condemned the chants, labelling them as “deeply offensive” and “unacceptable,” and urged UEFA to take appropriate action. The Gibraltar government also criticised the players’ behaviour, calling it “unnecessary” and “discriminatory,” and emphasised that sports events should not be used to make political statements.
UEFA’s disciplinary action
Following the complaint, UEFA launched an investigation into the incident. The Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) determined that the players had violated UEFA’s disciplinary code, specifically Article 11, which addresses the general principles of conduct. According to UEFA, Rodri and Morata were penalised for “failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sporting events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature, and for bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute.”
Consequences for Spain
As a result of the sanctions, both Rodri and Morata will miss Spain’s next UEFA Nations League match against Serbia on September 5, 2024. The GFA expressed satisfaction with UEFA’s decision, stating that it “sends a clear message that football must remain a platform for promoting peace, understanding, and fair play, free from divisive and offensive actions such as the chants.”
Background on Gibraltar
The incident has highlighted the ongoing political tension between Spain and Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory located on the southern coast of Spain. Gibraltar has been under British rule since the 18th century, and its population has consistently opposed any transfer of sovereignty to Spain. The GFA became a full member of UEFA in 2013, despite opposition from Spain, further intensifying the political dimension surrounding this issue.