Morata & Rodri banned for âGibraltar is Spanishâ chant
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Morata and Rodri both played key roles in helping Spain win Euro 2024
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Published
Spain captain Alvaro Morata and team-mate Rodri have been banned for one game by Uefa after they chanted âGibraltar is Spanishâ during their sideâs Euro 2024 victory celebrations.
The Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) made an official complaint about the celebrations to European footballâs governing body before the pair were charged.
Uefa has now suspended Morata and Rodri âfor failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sporting events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football, and Uefa in particular, into disreputeâ.
They are banned for Spainâs next game, which is against Serbia on Thursday, 5 September.
Gibraltar is an enclave at Spainâs southern tip that has been under British rule since the 18th century, and Spain has long called for its return.
The chanting took place in front of tens of thousands of Spain fans in Cibeles Square, Madrid on 15 July as players celebrated their 2-1 Euro 2024 final victory over England.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri, 28, could be seen chanting âGibraltar is Spanishâ on the stage, and AC Milan striker Morata, 31, later encouraged the crowd to join in with the same chant.
The Gibraltar FA complained about Spainâs behaviour, saying it had ânoted the extremely provocative and insulting nature of the celebrations around the Spanish menâs national team winning Euro 2024â.
âFootball has no place for behaviour of this nature,â it added.
Gibraltar has been a full member of Uefa since 2013.