Gibraltar FA: Welcome UEFA's decision to sanction Rodri and Morata

On August 7th, after UEFA decided to suspend Spanish players Rodri and Morata for one match, the Gibraltar FA issued an official statement expressing their welcome and relief regarding the decision.

The statement is as follows:
"The Gibraltar FA welcomes UEFA's decision to suspend Spanish national team players Rodri and Morata for one match based on our complaint. This suspension is due to their offensive and provocative chants directed at Gibraltar during Spain's celebrations after winning the 2024 European Championship.

The Gibraltar FA is pleased to see that our complaint has been recognized by UEFA and that the players' chant of 'Gibraltar belongs to Spain' was found to violate UEFA's disciplinary regulations, specifically Article 11. This article demands respect for the principles of ethical conduct, loyalty, integrity, and sportsmanship, and prohibits insulting behavior and actions that violate the basic rules of sports or use sporting events for non-sporting expressions.

UEFA's decision reaffirms that the chant 'Gibraltar is Spain' brings shame to football, particularly UEFA, and confirms that political or discriminatory behavior has no place in football. The core issue is the inappropriate and inflammatory nature of these chants, which not only show disrespect to the people of Gibraltar but also bring politics into the realm of sports, undermining the values of unity and respect that the sport embodies.

The Gibraltar FA is pleased that UEFA has recognized the seriousness of this incident and has taken appropriate action. This decision clearly indicates that football must continue to serve as a platform for promoting peace, understanding, and fair competition, free from divisive and offensive behavior such as chanting.

We remain committed to upholding these values and will continue to advocate for respect in sports."