Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, who goes mononymously by Rodri, has potentially landed himself in hot water with the European football governing body, UEFA, following his antics during Spain’s Euros trophy celebrations.
Rodri was a key part of the Spain national football team who broke Euros history by winning all seven games on their way to the 2024 title. His performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award which is still dividing opinions. However, everyone admits that the former Atlético de Madrid man was very important for Spain and is one of the reasons they were superb in the just-concluded Euros.
Together with the rest of the Spanish selection for the tournament, he celebrated in the nation’s capital, Madrid, where a very large crowd came to welcome and celebrate them for winning the nation’s historic fourth Euros trophy. His celebration and celebratory comments are now trending for the wrong reasons.
The story started when England supporters sang a controversial chant before the final. The Three Lions’ fans went: “Gibraltar is ours, Gibraltar is ours, f*** off you Spaniards, Gibraltar is ours.”
Rodri took this to heart and during Spain’s title celebrations, sang in response and as a retort: “It’s Spanish, Gibraltar is Spanish”
This angered the Gibraltar FA, who immediately petitioned UEFA to penalise the Euros champions and particularly, Rodri, who started and led the chants.
The Gibraltar FA’s statement read: “The Gibraltar FA to make official complaint to UEFA following Spanish Men’s National Team Euro 2024 celebrations. The Gibraltar FA has noted the extremely provocative and insulting nature of the celebrations around the Spanish Men’s national team winning Euro 2024.”
“The Association is this morning taking advice on the filing of a complaint to European Football’s governing body, UEFA, in relation to the unacceptable chanting and songs, relating to Gibraltar, sung by Spain’s Men’s National Team players after winning Euro 2024. Football has no place for behaviour of this nature.”
Rodri, meanwhile, is being propped up for the 2024 Ballon d’Or thansk to the season he has had with Man City and the Spain national team. His award as the Euros best player has also been followed by his naming in the team of the tournament.
It is unlikely he is named the best player in the world come October 2024, but the Spain midfielder can bask in being called the best midfielder in the world at the moment.
