UEFA has handed down a one-match ban to Spain internationals Álvaro Morata and Rodri for their involvement in a controversial incident during the team's European Championship title celebration. The incident in question occurred when Morata and Rodri, amidst the celebrations, led a chant asserting Spain's claim to sovereignty over Gibraltar.
The Gibraltar football federation lodged a formal complaint with UEFA following the incident. In response, UEFA's disciplinary body found Morata and Rodri guilty of several infractions, including failing to adhere to the general principles of conduct, violating basic rules of decent behavior, and using a sporting event for non-sporting purposes. The players were also accused of bringing disrepute to football and UEFA as a whole.
As a result of the ban, Morata and Rodri will be sidelined for Spain's upcoming UEFA Nations League group opener against Serbia on September 5. The absence of these key players is sure to impact Spain's lineup and strategy for the crucial match.
Gibraltar, a British overseas territory situated on the southern tip of Spain, has been a point of contention between Spain and the United Kingdom for centuries. The chant led by Morata and Rodri, proclaiming Gibraltar as Spanish, has further fueled the ongoing debate surrounding the territory's sovereignty.
