Alvaro Morata and Rodri handed bans by UEFA for chants during EURO 2024 celebrations
Spain’s duo Alvaro Morata and Rodri have been handed a one-match international ban by UEFA for their "Gibraltar is Spanish" chants following their Euro 2024 triumph. During their trophy parade in front of a mammoth crowd in Spain, both players chanted "Gibraltar es Español."
However, the sovereignty claim did not sit well with Gibraltar, as the country’s football federation filed a complaint with UEFA. Gibraltar became a British territory in 1713 after Spain ceded control of the territory to Anglo-Dutch forces during the War of the Spanish Succession nine years earlier.
In a 1967 referendum, the citizens of Gibraltar decisively rejected Spanish sovereignty. Again in 2002, the residents voted against the proposition of shared sovereignty between Spain and the United Kingdom.
In response, UEFA agreed to open proceedings against them, and in what would seem to pacify Gibraltarians, UEFA’s disciplinary body has banned both players. UEFA stated that they violated the basic rules of decent conduct and used sporting events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular into disrepute.
Gibraltar’s FA was content with UEFA’s decision and posted via its website:
"The Gibraltar FA is pleased that UEFA has acknowledged the severity of this incident and has acted accordingly. 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."
Consequently, both Alvaro Morato and Rodri will not play in Spain’s next game, which is against Serbia on Thursday, September 5. The punitive decision will not have any effect on either player’s domestic campaign, as they both will be eligible to feature in their respective debut league matches in the 2024–25 campaign.
UEFA’s initial reaction to Alvaro Morata and Rodri's chant
Before UEFA’s latest decision on Alvaro Morata and Rodri’s provocative and unacceptable behavior during their trophy parade, the football governing body initially released a statement in response to the complaint of the Gibraltar FA.
The statement read:
"A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector is being appointed to evaluate a potential violation of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations by the players Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante and Alvaro Morata in the context of conduct that occurred during the public presentation of the UEFA Euro 2024 trophy in Madrid on 15 July 2024. Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course."
Gibraltar's chief minister also reacted to the chants by Spanish football players and took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to express his disapproval.