UEFA has charged Spain players Rodri and Alvaro Morata following their 'Gibraltar is Spanish' chants during the European Championship trophy celebrations in Madrid.
Gibraltar's Football Association (GFA) initially lodged a complaint with UEFA over “extremely provocative and insulting” celebrations by players of Spain's national team following their European Championship success.
UEFA then appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector into the chants from Rodri and Morata during Spain's squad celebrations in their victory parade in Madrid on July 15, at the city's Cibeles fountain. The GFA said they welcomed UEFA's decision.
European football's governing body has since confirmed that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Rodri and Morata. The charges include violations of the general principles of conduct, basic rules of decent conduct, using sporting events for non-sporting manifestations, and bringing the sport and UEFA into disrepute. A UEFA statement added that the “Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) will make a decision on the matter in due course”.
In footage widely circulated on social media, Spain's captain Morata started the chant: “It's Spanish, Gibraltar is Spanish” — referencing the peninsula at the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula, which is British territory.
Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri — who was named as the tournament's best player — took the microphone on stage and joined in with the chant. Morata can be heard telling Rodri: “Man, you play in England”.
Gibraltar became a British territory in 1713, after Anglo-Dutch forces had captured the peninsula from Spain during the War of the Spanish Succession nine years previously. In 1967, its population rejected Spanish sovereignty in a referendum and in 2002 they rejected shared sovereignty between Spain and the United Kingdom.
Spain still claim sovereignty over the peninsula with its government stating: “Spain does not recognise the occupation of the isthmus or the fence as a border.”
Gibraltar was recognised as a full UEFA member in May 2013 and later that year, UEFA decided to keep Gibraltar and Spain apart in qualification groups for major tournaments due to “sensitivities” between the nations.