UEFA has handed one-match suspensions to Spain internationals Álvaro Morata and Rodri for their conduct during the celebration of Spain’s Euro 2024 victory. The disciplinary action follows a protest lodged by the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) after both players led chants of “Gibraltar is Spanish” during a celebration event in Madrid on July 14.
Morata, who captained Spain to their Euro 2024 triumph in Germany, and Rodri, who played a pivotal role in the tournament, were seen leading thousands of fans in the controversial chant at Cibeles Square. The GFA deemed the chants as “extremely provocative and insulting,” prompting their formal complaint to UEFA.
As a result, the UEFA disciplinary body found both players in violation of the general principles of conduct, the basic rules of decent behavior, and for using a sporting event for a non-sporting demonstration. This conduct was determined to have brought the sport of football and UEFA into disrepute.
The suspension will see both players miss Spain’s UEFA Nations League group opener against Serbia on September 5. Despite the international ban, their domestic careers remain unaffected. Morata is set to debut for AC Milan against Torino later this month, while Rodri is expected to feature for Manchester City in the FA Community Shield against Manchester United this weekend.
The incident underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located at the southern tip of Spain, which has been a point of contention between Spain and the United Kingdom for nearly 300 years. The GFA, a full UEFA member since 2013, has emphasized that “football has no place for behavior of this nature.”
Morata and Rodri’s participation was crucial in Spain’s success at Euro 2024, with both players featuring in all matches of the tournament. The ban serves as a reminder of UEFA’s stance on maintaining the integrity and apolitical nature of football events.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
