The Spanish soccer crew celebrations in Madrid following their victory over England within the European Cup remaining have been mired in controversy after their captain Alvaro Morata’s chant of “Gibraltar es Espanol” – “Gibraltar is Spanish” – which was repeated regularly by star participant, Rodri, who performs for English membership Manchester Metropolis.
The chants in entrance of a whole bunch of hundreds of jubilant Spaniards in Cibeles, haven’t gone down effectively within the British Crown Colony of of Gibraltar whose autonomous authorities expressed dismay at such “discriminatory political statements which might be vastly offensive to Gibraltarians”. Utilizing the celebrations “for advancing the thought of usurping the territory of Gibraltar is opposite to the precept that sport shouldn’t be used to advance any politically controversial ideology,” it stated in a press release.
Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo took to X to precise a extra full-throated opinion, describing the chants as “worse than disgusting”. “It sullies the game of soccer and the win on the pitch.. This can’t stand unchallenged. The Rock is OURS,” he stated, utilizing Gibraltar’s nickname for its well-known cliff-faced mountain.
The Gibraltar Soccer Affiliation additionally slammed the chanting as “extraordinarily provocative and insulting” and stated it might file an official grievance with the European footballing physique UEFA. “Soccer has no place for behaviour of his nature,” it stated in a press release. Gibraltar has lengthy been a supply of stress between Madrid and London.
Though Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in 1713, Madrid has lengthy coveted its return in a long-running bone of competition that has for many years concerned strain on the frontier. Tensions peaked in 1969 when the regime of dictator Francisco Franco closed the border, which didn’t totally reopen till 1985.
The British, Spanish and Gibraltar governments are presently in excessive stakes negotiation over the continuation of an open border following the UK’ s resolution to depart the European Union.
There are an estimated 30,000 Gibraltar residents and a few 10,000 Spaniards who cross the border every day for work.
No remark so removed from both Manchester Metropolis or the British Embassy in Madrid however meantime the British Fleet stands guard over Gibraltar.
