UEFA launch disciplinary investigation into Manchester City midfielder | OneFootball

Manchester City midfielder and Spain international Rodrigo is now at the centre of a disciplinary investigation launched by UEFA this week.

The Manchester City star recorded a Player of the Tournament-winning summer at the European Championships with Spain in Germany over the last few weeks, culminating in a 2-1 final win over England in Berlin.

Spain’s fourth Euros victory sparked wild celebrations across Spain and particularly in the Spanish capital of Madrid, where Luis de la Fuente’s team descended upon the day after victory in the German capital for an open top bus parade and city centre stage celebration.

However, the night resulted in widespread controversy, particularly amongst those of Gibraltar nationality and residence, with the Spanish national team encouraging a chant of ‘Gibraltar is Spanish’.

In direct response, Gibraltar’s Football Association lodged a complaint earlier this week with UEFA over “extremely provocative and insulting” celebrations by players within the Spanish national team following their European Championship success over England.

Now, as confirmed by UEFA, the governing body has launched a disciplinary investigation into both Rodri and Alvaro Morata over their ‘Gibraltar is Spanish’ chants during Spain’s Euro 2024 celebrations in Madrid.

UEFA have appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector into the chants from the Manchester City and AC Milan stars during the Spain squad’s celebrations in their victory parade in Madrid on Monday, concluding at the Cibeles fountain.

In direct response, Gibraltar’s Football Association has said it “welcomes” UEFA’s decision.

But what is the history of Gibraltar in relation to Spain?

In 1713, Gibraltar became a British territory after Anglo-Dutch forces captured the peninsula from Spain during the War of the Spanish Succession nine years previously. In 1967, the population of Gibraltar rejected Spanish sovereignty in a referendum, before in 2002, they rejected shared sovereignty between Spain and the United Kingdom.

Spain still claim sovereignty over the peninsula with its government stating, “Spain does not recognise the occupation of the isthmus or the fence as a border.”

Gibraltar was first recognised as a full UEFA member in mid-2013, with European football’s governing body deciding to keep them and Spain apart in qualification groups for major tournaments due to “sensitivities” between the nations in a decision made later that year.