Spain duo Rodri and Alvaro Morata face ban and hit with FOUR charges over ‘Gibraltar is Spanish’ chant after Euro final
SPAIN stars Rodri and Alvaro Morata could face a ban after being hit with FOUR charges by Uefa for chanting “Gibraltar is Spanish” during their Euro triumph celebrations.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri, 28, was seen singing the taunt on stage in front of tens of thousands of fans the day after their 2-1 final victory over England.
AC Milan striker Morata, 31, later encouraged the crowd to join in with the same chant.
Gibraltar is an enclave on Spain’s southern tip which has been under British rule since the 18th century, but its neighbours have long called for its return.
A Uefa investigation was opened after the Gibraltar FA complained, branding the chant as “extremely provocative and insulting”.
And now the Roja pair have been charged over a quartet of issues for their actions.
Those include “general principles of conduct”, “violating the basic rules of decent conduct”, “using sporting events of manifestations of a non-sporting nature” and “bringing the sport of football, and Uefa in particular, into disrepute”.
It is now up to Uefa’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body to decide on the matter in due course.
There is nothing in the disciplinary regulations that specifies what the punishment could be.
But SunSport understands that the fact the duo have been hit with four serious charges suggests it could be more than a fine.
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This means that a suspension is a possibility.
Uefa’s statement read: “Disciplinary proceedings have been instigated in accordance with Article 55 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations against Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante and Alvaro Morata.
“For the conduct that occurred during the public presentation of the 2024 UEFA European Championship trophy in Madrid on 15 July 2024.”
The Gibraltar Football Association welcomes Uefa’s decision to open formal disciplinary proceedings against both players.
The organisation said: ” This is an important first step to establish the unlawfulness of the chant on grounds put forward by the GFA.
“The Gibraltar FA now awaits the decision of the board when the matter is heard.”
Meanwhile, Rodri is among the favourites to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or.