Spain stars Rodri and Alvaro Morata are CHARGED by UEFA after the pair chanted 'Gibraltar is Spanish' at Euro 2024 final celebration party
- Rodri and Alvaro Morata have been charged by UEFA following complaints
- The Spanish duo made chants about Gibraltar during their trophy parade
- The Gibraltar FA made complaints to UEFA over the pair's actions and chants
Spain's European Championship winning stars Rodri and Alvaro Morata have been charged by UEFA following their actions during the team's trophy parade.
The two Spanish stars, who were key men in the country's triumph in Germany, were the centre of complaints from the Gibraltar FA over unacceptable chanting during the celebrations.
During the jubilant scenes in Madrid, Rodri and allegedly Morata chanted 'It's Spanish, Gibraltar is Spanish' at the party, which led to the complaints and a subsequent investigation.
Now, UEFA have confirmed that the two players have been charged after breaking 'general principles of conduct'.
That includes violating the basic rules of decent conduct, using sporting events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute.
Rodri (centre) and teammate Alvaro Morata (second from left) have been charged by UEFA after chants at their Euro 2024 celebration parade
Morata captained the team to their Euros victory, while Rodri was one of the stars of the finals
Last Friday, UEFA confirmed that they had opened an investigation into the Spainish duo's actions, stating;
'A Uefa Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector is being appointed to evaluate a potential violation of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations by the players Rodrigo Hernández Cascante and Álvaro Morata in the context of conduct that occurred during the public presentation of the Uefa Euro 2024 trophy in Madrid on 15 July 2024.
'Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.'
Both Rodri and Morata played pivotal roles in Spain's Euro 2024 win, with the Manchester City man being named Player of the Tournament.
While striker Morata, who has just signed for AC Milan, captained the side to victory and scored one goal across the seven games.
Following the chanting during last Monday's celebrations, the FA of Gibraltar released a statement condemning their behaviour.
Thew two Spanish stars played key roles throughout the tournament in Germany
'The Gibraltar FA has noted the extremely provocative and insulting nature of the celebrations around the Spanish Men's national team winning Euro 2024,' the statement read.
'The Association is this morning taking advice on the filing of a complaint to European Football's governing body, UEFA, in relation to the unacceptable chanting and songs, relating to Gibraltar, sung by Spain's Men's National Team players after winning Euro 2024.
'Football has no place for behaviour of this nature.'
The Gibraltar FA has welcomed confirmation that Rodri and Morata are facing formal disicplinary proceedings.
'This is an important first step in order to establish the unlawfulness of the chant on the basis of the grounds put forward by the Gibraltar FA in its complaint,' a statement read.
'The Gibraltar FA now awaits the decision of the UEFA Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body when the matter is heard.'
Gibraltar is situated at the Southern tip of Spain, but for the past 300 years has been an British overseas territory.
Spain has long contested British sovereignty over Gibraltar, claiming that it should be part of Spain, but the UK has long maintained control over the area.
Rodri was named Player of the Tournament following his displays in the seven games
The disputes have led to tensions and incidents between Spanish and British vessels along both the sea and land boarder, with Britain's exit from the EU adding more complexity to the situation.
These disputes have meant that Gibraltar's national football team wasn't accepted by UEFA until 2013, and by FIFA until 2018.
Morata's alleged chanting was not the only trouble that the skipper may have found himself in during the parade.
He was also caught on camera throwing a cup at a fan holding up a sign, during the bus ride through the city.
