UEFA Begins Investigation Into Morata And Rodri Euro 2024 Celebrations

UEFA has charged Manchester City midfielder, Rodri, and AC Milan striker, Alvaro Morata after they chanted “Gibraltar is Spanish” during their Euro 2024 celebrations earlier this month.

The Spain duo encouraged the controversial chant as they marked their 2-1 triumph against England with a party in Madrid.

Nico Williams’ opening goal shortly after halftime, followed by a late winner from substitute Mikel Oyarzabal, resulted in England suffering a second consecutive defeat in the Euros final at the Olimpiastadion in Berlin.

Gibraltar on the southern tip of Spain has been a British overseas territory for more than 300 years.

The Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) complained about the scenes to UEFA, stating it had “noted the extremely provocative and insulting nature of the celebrations around the Spanish Men’s national team winning Euro 2024”.

Gibraltar added that “football has no place for behavior of this nature.”

Manchester City midfielder, Rodri, and AC Milan striker, Alvaro Morata chating

UEFA on Tuesday said the charges against two players also include “bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute.”

“This is an important first step to establish the unlawfulness of the chant based on the grounds put forward by the Gibraltar FA in its complaint,” the federation said in a statement.

UEFA announced that its disciplinary body will make a decision on the case a later date, with the players potentially facing suspension from Nations League matches scheduled for September.

At Euro 2024 in Germany, UEFA banned Albania player Mirlind Daku for two games after leading fans in nationalist chants against Serbia and North Macedonia.

Morata finalized his transfer from Atlético Madrid to AC Milan last week. Rodri, who was awarded player of the tournament at Euro 2024, currently plays for Manchester City.