The European Football Confederation (UEFA) has imposed a one-match international ban on Spanish national team captain Alvaro Morata and Rodri.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!UEFA imposed this punishment in relation to Morata and Rodri’s chants stating that Gibraltar is part of Spain, which were performed during the Euro 2024 title celebrations at Plaza Cibeles, Madrid, Spain, on July 15.
“Morata and Rodri were sanctioned for failing to comply with the general principles of conduct by violating the basic rules of appropriate conduct,” UEFA said as quoted by Eurosport on Wednesday.
“(They) used a sporting event to express a non-sporting attitude and for bringing the sport of football, in particular UEFA, into disrepute,” UEFA’s statement continued.
The Gibraltar Football Association filed a complaint with UEFA over the behavior of the two La Furia Roja players. They considered Rodri and Morata’s actions to be very provocative and offensive.
“There is no place in football for such behavior,” said the Gibraltar Football Association.
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Gibraltar’s song is Spain has a political connection because Gibraltar is a small country at the southern tip of Spain that is currently under British rule.
Spain is known to be trying to include Gibraltar in their territory. UEFA has officially included Gibraltar as a member in 2013.
Spain itself has just won the European Cup (Euro) after defeating England in the final with a score of 2-1 in Berlin, Germany on July 14. The victory over England is the fourth European Cup title for Spain and is also a new record.
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With this sanction, Rodri and Morata are certain to be absent from the next Spanish national team match, namely against Serbia in the first match of Group D League A of the 2024/2025 UEFA Nations League on September 5. Spain is in Group D with Serbia, Denmark and Switzerland.