UEFA has initiated a disciplinary process against Spain captain Alvaro Morata and player of the tournament Rodri following their involvement in a controversial chant during the team’s European Championship title celebration. The governing body announced that a disciplinary inspector has been appointed to assess a potential violation of its rules by the two players.
The incident occurred in Madrid on Monday, where Morata and Rodri led thousands of fans in singing “Gibraltar is Spanish” after Spain’s 2-1 victory over England in the Euro 2024 final. Gibraltar, located at the southern tip of Spain, has been a British overseas territory for over 300 years, a fact that adds sensitivity to the situation.
The Gibraltar soccer federation has lodged a formal complaint with UEFA regarding the incident. UEFA has yet to provide a timeline for the investigation, which could potentially lead to suspensions for the players from upcoming Nations League games in September.
This disciplinary action follows a precedent set at Euro 2024, where UEFA banned Albania’s Mirlind Daku for two games after he led fans in nationalist chants against Serbia and North Macedonia.
In related news, Morata, who captained Spain to their European Championship victory, has completed a transfer from Atletico Madrid to AC Milan. The Italian club announced on Friday that the 31-year-old striker has signed a four-year contract, with an option for an additional year.
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Morata scored 21 goals for Atletico Madrid last season and has an illustrious career with previous stints at Real Madrid, Juventus, and Chelsea, tallying over 200 club goals and 36 international goals for Spain. He will don the No. 7 jersey at Milan, replacing Olivier Giroud, who has moved to Los Angeles FC.
AC Milan, undergoing significant changes after finishing 19 points behind Serie A champions Inter Milan last season, has appointed Paulo Fonseca as their new coach, replacing Stefano Pioli. The Rossoneri, last crowned Serie A champions in 2022, are looking to rebuild and reclaim their glory in Italian football.
