UEFA has appointed a disciplinary inspector to investigate Spain captain Alvaro Morata and teammate Rodri after they chanted “Gibraltar is Spanish” during their Euro 2024 victory celebration. The Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) lodged an official complaint with UEFA regarding the incident on Tuesday.
The European football governing body stated that the inspector would “evaluate a potential violation of the UEFA disciplinary regulations.” Gibraltar, a British territory at Spain’s southern tip since the 18th Century, has long been claimed by Spain. The incident occurred in front of tens of thousands of Spain fans in Cibeles Square, Madrid, on 15 July, following Spain’s 2-1 victory over England in the Euro 2024 final.
Gibraltar FA reacts
During the celebration, Manchester City midfielder Rodri, 28, was seen chanting “Gibraltar is Spanish” on stage. AC Milan striker Morata, 31, later encouraged the crowd to join in with the same chant. The Gibraltar FA condemned Spain’s behavior, highlighting the “extremely provocative and insulting nature” of the celebrations surrounding the Spanish Men’s national team win.
The Gibraltar FA emphasized that “football has no place for behavior of this nature” and has been a full member of UEFA since 2013. The UEFA inspector’s investigation will determine whether the actions of the Spanish players constitute a breach of the governing body’s disciplinary regulations.
