UEFA Ban Spain’s Alvaro Morata, Rodri For Chanting “Gibraltar Is Spanish”

Spain national team players, Alvaro Morata and Rodri have been hit with a one-game ban by Uefa for their involvement in chanting “Gibraltar is Spanish” during the Euro 2024 victory celebrations.

This action came after the Gibraltar Football Association submitted a formal complaint to Uefa about the conduct of the Spanish players during the celebrations.

Uefa suspended Morata and Rodri 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.”

The ban means that, Rodri who currently plays for Manchester City and Alvaro Morata who recently completed his move from Atletico Madrid to AC Milan, will miss Spain’s upcoming game against Serbia on Thursday, September 5, 2024.

Recall that the controversial chanting occurred as the players celebrated their 2-1 Euro 2024 final victory over England in Cibeles Square, Madrid, in front of a large gathering of Spanish fans.

The Gibraltar FA voiced its strong disapproval of the behaviour, describing it as “extremely provocative and insulting” and asserting that such conduct has no place in football.

Gibraltar, an enclave at Spain’s southern tip under British rule since the 18th century, has been a full member of Uefa since 2013.