SHAH ALAM - A jubilant victory parade in Madrid turned controversial when players from Spain's Euro 2024 winning team led crowds in chants of "Gibraltar is Spanish."
The incident reignited a centuries-old territorial dispute and drew sharp rebuke from Gibraltar and its football association (FA).
Gibraltar, a British overseas territory situated at the southern tip of Spain, has been a longstanding point of contention between Madrid and London. The territory was captured by British troops in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession and ceded to Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht.
Since then, Gibraltar has served as a significant naval base and strategic point for the United Kingdom (UK), controlling the critical Strait of Gibraltar, which connects the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean.
The controversy erupted after Spain’s men's football team defeated England 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final.
During their victory celebrations in Madrid, midfielder Rodri, named Euro 2024’s Best Player and also a player for English side Manchester City, along with captain Alvaro Morata, who is reported to join Italian giants AC Milan this summer, led the crowds in a provocative chant.
The celebration, marked by an open-top bus tour through the streets of Madrid and ending at Cibeles Square, drew tens of thousands of cheering fans waving red and yellow flags.
Gibraltar’s FA filed an official complaint with UEFA, condemning the chants as "extremely provocative and insulting."
They stressed that "football has no place for behaviour of this nature," highlighting the deep-seated sensitivities surrounding Gibraltar's sovereignty.
The enclave, home to over 34,000 people who identify strongly as British, has twice affirmed its preference for British rule through referendums.
Despite this, Spain has persistently claimed the territory.
The situation became more complex post-Brexit, which saw 96 per cent of Gibraltarians voting to remain in the EU.
Brexit introduced a hard border between Gibraltar and Spain, complicating the movement of people and goods.
Gibraltar has been a UEFA member since 2013 and fielded its own team in Euro 2024, though it finished last in its qualifying group.
The recent incident involving Spain's national team has once again highlighted the fraught relationship and historical grievances between the UK and Spain over Gibraltar.