UEFA Issues One-Match Ban for Spanish Players Over Controversial Gibraltar Chants

UEFA Issues One-Match Ban for Spanish Players Over Controversial Gibraltar Chants.

Spain players (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

UEFA has imposed one-match bans on Rodri and Álvaro Morata following their controversial chants about Gibraltar after Spain’s Euro 2024 victory over England. During celebrations in Madrid, the players sang “Gibraltar is Spanish,” which provoked criticism from the Gibraltar FA, who called the remarks “discriminatory political statements” and “hugely offensive.”

Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory for over 300 years, remains a point of contention with Spain, which claims sovereignty over the area. UEFA’s sanctions mean both players will miss Spain’s Nations League match against Serbia on September 5. UEFA stated the players used a sporting event to make non-sporting statements, bringing football and UEFA into disrepute.

The incident, which went viral, was condemned by Gibraltar’s chief minister as “disgusting.”

Spain won the Euro 2024 final 2-1 with goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal. Rodri, who was named player of the tournament, was substituted at halftime and is currently on summer break. He, along with other Euro 2024 finalists like Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Phil Foden, is absent from Manchester City’s pre-season training and may not feature in this weekend’s Community Shield against Manchester United.