Gibraltar officials slapped down the blistering remarks made by two Spanish football players as they were celebrating their victory after the Euros 2024 final.
During a victory party held in Madrid in the wake of the final of the European tournament won by Spain against England, Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, known as Rodri, sensationally stated “Gibraltar is Spanish” to thousands of adoring fans.
Alvaro Morata, the national team’s captain, jumped in to remind the footballer he is a player in an English team, to which Rodri brazenly replied: “I couldn’t care less”.
Morata then copied his teammate’s chant as he shouted to the crowd: “Just a little pause to remind you of something… I was given a hard time there – It is Spanish, Gibraltar is Spanish!”
The chants and comments sparked outrage among officials in Gibraltar, who were quick to issue a series of stern statements on Tuesday morning.
The Gibraltar Football Association announced the remarks by Morata and Rodri would be flagged to UEFA through an official complaint.
The organisation’s press release also read: “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 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. Football has no place for behaviour of this nature.”
The Government of Gibraltar described the remarks by the Spanish footballers as “rancid”, with its statement reading: “His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar is disappointed to note that several players of the Spanish male national football team celebrated their European Cup win with chants of rancid remarks about Gibraltar.”
It continued: “This is a totally unnecessary mixing of a great sporting success with discriminatory political statements that are hugely offensive to Gibraltarians. The lamentable use of the platform of celebrations around winning the Eurocup for advancing the idea of usurping the territory of Gibraltar is contrary to the principle that sport should not be used to advance any politically controversial ideology.”
Upon sharing these statements on X, Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo described as “worse than disgusting” mixing the victory at the Euro with chants “that glorify the dictatorial politics of a mass murderer like Franco and his fascist regime’s attempt to usurp a neighbouring territory”.
Francisco Franco is the fascist dictator who ruled Spain for nearly five decades and rekindled the dispute surrounding Gibraltar’s sovereignty 200 years after Madrid ceded the Rock to London.
Mr Picardo added the “Rock is ours” while pledging his support to the Gibratar FA’s decision to issue an official complaint.
This came amid reports claiming hundreds of Spanish football fans had rushed to the Gibraltar border fence to taunt England after the Three Lions’ defeat at the EURO on Sunday.
Residents from the Cadiz municipality flooded the Gibraltar border with cars, Spanish flags and chants of protest including, “Bye-bye British” and “Gibraltar is Spanish”, according to La Vanguardia.
The new row also comes as Spain, the EU and the UK have yet to strike a post-Brexit deal over the Rock.
Express.co.uk has contacted UEFA and the Real Federación Española de Fútbol for comment.