The Gibraltar Confederation lodged a formal complaint with UEFA on Tuesday after Spanish national team players chanted to promote the annexation of the peninsula.
During the celebration of the title of European champion, players such as Álvaro Morata and Rodri sang “Gibraltar is Spanish”, which was later sung by thousands of fans who celebrated Sunday’s victory against England.
In response, the Gibraltar Federation lamented the “extremely exciting and offensive celebrations”. “The Federation is, this morning, taking advice on filing a complaint with UEFA. Football has no place for this type of behaviour”, it can also be read.
Gibraltar has been one of many overseas territories of the United Kingdom since the Treaty of Utrecht was signed in 1711. However, it has been disputed by Spain since the Franco dictatorship.
No official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain It can be read that “British occupation does not meet the requirements of international law. And that is why Spain has always pointed out that the occupation of the yoke is illegal and has always demanded its unconditional return. Spain does not recognize the occupation of the yoke or the fence as a border.”
The tense relationship moved to football when the Spain tried to prevent Gibraltar from joining UEFA. The country applied for the first time in 1997, after the entry of the Faroe Islands, which belong to the kingdom of Denmark. The Nordic country did not contest the candidacy, but the same did not happen with Gibraltar, which received strong resistance from Spain.
The federation argued that Gibraltar’s sports facilities were located in disputed territory and expressed concern that recognition of the Gibraltar national team could encourage similar intentions in Catalonia and the Basque Country, regions with strong independence movements and their own football teams too.
UEFA rejected Gibraltar’s entry and, in a new vote in 2007, only England, Wales and Scotland voted in favour. 49 countries voted “no”, following Spain’s appeal.
Gibraltar eventually won the fight and became a member of UEFA in May 2013more than 15 years after the initial candidacy and only as a result of a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
There were, however, remnants of the institutional struggle between the two confederations: the UEFA does not allow teams to face each otheras with Kosovo, Serbia, Russia and Ukraine.