Update: Spain stars Rodri and Alvaro Morata have been banned by UEFA for singing “Gibraltar is in Spain” following their Euro 2024 victory over England.
Spain’s European Championship-winning stars, Rodri and Alvaro Morata, have been banned by UEFA over their controversial comments made after their European Championship triumph.
Spain defeated England to win a record fourth European crown in Berlin last month.
During their post-match celebration, Rodri and Captain Morata were caught singing “Gibraltar is Spanish,” prompting UEFA to open disciplinary proceedings after the Gibraltar FA lodged a formal complaint.
Both players were charged in late July, with UEFA’s disciplinary body possessing the authority to hand down suspensions for both country and club European competitions simultaneously.
Now, UEFA’s Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Body has banned the pair for one game after finding them guilty of “failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, violating the basic rules of decent conduct, using sporting events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature, and bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute.”
Spain’s next match is the opening fixture of the Nations League away to Serbia on September 5.
The Gibraltar FA expressed satisfaction that UEFA had “acknowledged the severity of this incident” and taken appropriate action.
“This decision 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,” the Gibraltar FA added.
The peninsula of Gibraltar lies on the southern tip of Spain but has been a British territory since 1713, having rejected the opportunity to come under Spanish sovereignty on several occasions.
The Gibraltar FA described the comments from Morata and Rodri as “extremely provocative and insulting.”
“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 statement read.
“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.”