Gibraltar FA to make official complaint to UEFA following Spain's Euro 2024 victory celebrations
Gibraltar Football Association will make an official complaint to European football's governing body, UEFA, following offensive chants by the Spanish national team during their trophy parade. After their Euro 2024 triumph on Sunday, July 14, the Spanish team arrived in Madrid the following day for their trophy parade.
Thousands of fans gathered at Cibeles Square where the trophy was presented and celebrations continued.
During the celebration, Manchester City midfielder Rodri began a chant saying "Gibraltar is Spanish," which was then picked up by the crowd. The term was meant to reference that Gibraltar, which lies at the southern tip of Spain in the Iberian peninsula is Spanish despite being under British rule.
However, the chant did not sit well with the nation's football association, who on Tuesday (July 16) described it as "extremely provocative and insulting." In a statement via their website, they condemned the actions of the European champions as they plan to file a complaint to UEFA, with a part saying:
"Football has no place for behavior of this nature."
The country was handed to the British in 1713, but there have been continuous tensions between the United Kingdom and Spain surrounding the island nation's sovereignty. They participated in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, finishing rock-bottom of a group consisting of France, the Netherlands, Greece, and the Republic of Ireland.
Gibraltar chief minister condemns chant by Spain during title parade
Gibraltar chief minister Fabian Pocardo has condemned the chant by the Spanish national team during their title parade.
Reacting to the incident, the minister, while supporting the decision to file a complaint to UEFA about the incident, condemned mixing a sporting victory with politics, citing that it tarnishes the purpose of football:
"Mixing a sporting victory and the chant that glorifies the dictatorial politics of a mass murderer like Franco and his fascist regime's attempt to usurp a neighbouring territory, that is also a UEFA nation, is worse than disgusting. It sullies the sport of football and the win on the pitch."