During their post-match celebration, Rodri and Captain Morata were caught singing “Gibraltar is Spanish,” leading UEFA to open disciplinary proceedings after the Gibraltar FA lodged a formal complaint.
The pair were charged in late July, and UEFA’s disciplinary body has the authority to issue suspensions for both country and club European competitions simultaneously.
Now, UEFA’s Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Body has banned the duo for one game, finding them guilty of “failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, violating the basic rules of decent conduct, using sporting events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature, and bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute.”
Spain’s next match is the opening fixture of the Nations League away to Serbia on September 5.
The Gibraltar FA expressed satisfaction with UEFA’s decision, stating it “acknowledged the severity of this incident” and took appropriate action.
“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,” the Gibraltar FA added.
The peninsula of Gibraltar lies at the southern tip of Spain but is a British territory and has been since 1713, having rejected the opportunity to come under Spanish sovereignty on several occasions.
The Gibraltar FA described the comments from Morata and Rodri as “extremely provocative and insulting.”
“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 statement read.
“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.”
