Manchester City star Rodri charged by UEFA over 'deeply offensive' Gibraltar chant after Spain's Euros win
Rodri's Spain teammate and captain Alvaro Morata has also been charged by European football's governing body. The actions of the pair led to a complaint from the Gibraltar Football Association.
Tuesday 23 July 2024 18:34, UK
Manchester City's Spanish star Rodri has been charged by UEFA after "deeply offensive" chanting about Gibraltar during celebrations marking the national side's Euro 2024 final win against England.
The defensive midfielder sang "Gibraltar es Espanol" (Gibraltar is Spanish) as he took the microphone in front of thousands of fans at an event in Madrid on 15 July.
His Spain teammate and captain Alvaro Morata has also been charged by European football's governing body.
The actions of the pair led to an official complaint from the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) which labelled the behaviour "deeply offensive".
UEFA announced last Friday an ethics and disciplinary inspector had been appointed to look into what had happened at the event in the Spanish capital.
The pair have now been charged under Article 11 of UEFA's disciplinary code.
It is alleged they violated the basic rules of decent conduct, used a sporting event for a manifestation of a non-sporting nature, and brought the sport into disrepute.
UEFA said its control, ethics and disciplinary body (CEDB) would decide on the matter in due course.
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Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory, but is the subject of a territorial claim by Spain.
Following the celebrations, a statement from the territory's government claimed "several" Spanish players had chanted "rancid remarks about Gibraltar".
"This is a totally unnecessary mixing of sporting success with discriminatory political statements that are hugely offensive to Gibraltarians," it added.
Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar's chief minister, was equally scathing in a post on X - which he signed off: "The Rock is OURS".
"Mixing a sporting victory and the chant that glorifies the dictatorial politics of a mass murderer like Franco and his fascist regime's attempt to usurp a neighbouring territory, that is also a UEFA nation, is worse than disgusting."
"This cannot stand unchallenged," he added.
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During the final against England in Berlin on 14 July, Rodri came off at half-time with the score goalless, but his team went on to triumph 2-1 without him, with the winning goal scored in the 86th minute.
Rodri was named player of the tournament in Germany.