Gibraltar officials have criticised Manchester City’s Rodri for singing a ‘raunchy’ anti-British song claiming The Rock ‘is Spanish’ during Euro 2024 celebrations, as the player laughs at his team-mate who says: ‘You play in England!’
Gibraltar authorities have slammed Manchester City star Rodri for his “raunchy” chants saying “Gibraltar is Spanish” during wild celebrations in Madrid last night.
The 28-year-old Spanish midfielder was the driving force behind the chants last night, becoming part of a controversial trend that has taken off on social media ahead of the match against England.
The chants were repeated by tens of thousands of supporters in the Spanish capital, a day after Spain beat England 2-1 in the final of Euro 2024 in Berlin.
The British government of Gibraltar said in a statement that it was “disappointed” by the players’ comments about the territory, calling the remarks “completely unnecessary” and “deeply offensive to the people of Gibraltar.”
‘The regrettable use of the stage of the celebration of winning the Euro Cup to promote the idea of taking over the territory of Gibraltar is contrary to the principle that sport should not be used to promote a politically controversial ideology.’
The territory’s status has long been a sensitive political issue, with some in Spain believing Britain’s control is illegal. Tensions have risen sharply since Brexit, with Gibraltar’s post-referendum status still in negotiations.
“You’re playing for England, mate,” team-mate and captain Alvaro Morata reminded Rodri during the trophy parade, jumping in as the crowd waved flags and continued to chant.
Rodri, who was named Player of the Tournament this year for his performances with Spain, replied succinctly: ‘I don’t care.’
These comments were met with much criticism, while there were political tensions over the future of the area.
Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, better known as Rodri, celebrated with the team in Madrid
The Manchester City midfielder lifts the trophy in Madrid during Monday night’s parade
Thousands of people with Spanish flags during celebrations in Madrid on Monday
Large crowds gathered at Cibeles Square to celebrate with the returning national team
Rodri, caught in the moment, sang ‘Gibraltar is Spanish’ to fans in the audience
Spanish fans waved flags and sang popular songs with the team in Madrid on Monday
Former Conservative Party defence minister Mark Francois told MailOnline: ‘Spain may have deservedly won the cup but they didn’t win the Rock.
‘Gibraltar remains British, by long-standing international treaty, and will remain so for as long as its people wish. One football match, even a European final, will not change that.’
It was an emotional evening for the Spanish supporters, who flew back from Berlin on Monday to join their fans in Cibeles Square after a hard-fought campaign.
The Spanish King, Felipe VI, was in the capital to greet all the players and staff, before posing for a group photo with the squad.
Thousands of supporters followed the bus through Madrid city centre as the players displayed the Henri Delaunay Trophy and chanted into the night.
Morata led the festivities on stage, asking questions to the players, dancing and even serenading the audience with his own singing.
Rodri, who is tipped for the next Ballon d’Or, was also the driving force behind an iconic dance that saw the entire Spanish team dance to the rhythm of the large crowd of fans nearby.
Rodri, Jesus Navas and Dani Olmo and their teammates celebrate the trophy in Berlin
Rodri lifts the UEFA Euro 2024 Henri Delaunay Trophy during the Trophy Parade in Madrid
The team gathered on stage to celebrate with tens of thousands of supporters in Madrid
Thousands of people celebrated on the Plaza de Cibeles until Monday
Dani Carvajal (L) and Alvaro Morata celebrate their victory on the podium in Madrid on Monday
The video of his Gibraltar slogan was shared widely online as Spain celebrated its victory, drawing criticism.
A user wrote on Twitter/X: ‘Used to play in England*’
Another said: ‘Not the smartest. May we ask what his opinion is on Ceuta and Melilla?’
Both are autonomous cities recognized as Spanish and located on the North African coast, bordering Morocco.
Critics responded that Ceuta and Melilla were founded before Morocco and were “not colonies” like Gibraltar.
“Gibraltar is internationally recognized… as a colony,” wrote another user.
The status of Gibraltar, founded some 850 years ago by the Almohad Caliphate, is still controversial in Spain.
The area and town were first ceded to the British during the War of the Spanish Succession in the early 18th century.
Spain made peace in 1713 after a long and bloody war, giving up its claim to the French throne and guaranteeing that the two countries would not merge, thus preserving the balance of power on the continent.
As part of the condition, Britain kept Gibraltar, which would become an important base for control of the Mediterranean in later wars.
But the treaty did not clearly define the boundaries between the beginning of British territory and the end of Spain, creating strong feelings about claims in the region.
The Rock of Gibraltar can be seen from the Spanish mainland (file photo)
Spain defeated England 2-1 in the European Championship final on Sunday
Spain’s Rodri and England’s Phil Foden during the UEFA EURO 2024 Final
Rodri celebrates his Player of the Tournament award after the UEFA EURO 2024 final
Dejected: England’s Jude Bellingham sits (C) after the final in Berlin on Sunday
England manager Gareth Southgate hangs his head after England’s narrow defeat in Berlin
Spain has always claimed sovereignty, inferring that the outline of the old town from 1704 only indicates the limits of the British claim. However, the Constitution of Gibraltar stipulates that no transfer to Spain can take place without the consent of the people.
A referendum among residents in 2002 showed that the majority supported the status quo.
However, Brexit has complicated matters, as many residents rely on free and easy movement between Spain and Gibraltar.
Tensions briefly flared in 2019 when the British naval ship HMS Sabre intercepted a Spanish patrol boat after an alleged incursion into Gibraltar’s territorial waters.
Photographs taken from the shore showed the British ship HMS Sabre, part of the navy’s Gibraltar Squadron, holding back the Spanish invasion.
A British Foreign Office spokesman said: “We can confirm that a raid has taken place by the Spanish navy…
‘As in all raids, the Royal Navy challenged the ship. When challenged, the Spanish naval vessel left British territorial waters of Gibraltar.
Three years earlier, HMS Sabre had fired flares at a Spanish survey vessel when it entered the waters off Gibraltar.
The Royal Navy said at the time that it “opposes all unlawful maritime incursions into British territorial waters of Gibraltar”.
“We support this by filing formal diplomatic protests with the Spanish government,” they said in November 2016.
Since the EU referendum, Britain and Spain have been locked in difficult negotiations over the future of the territory.
In November, Madrid said Spain was “very close” to signing an agreement on the territory’s post-Brexit status, but gave no further details.
Also in April, the territory’s head said a deal was “within reach” and “very, very, very, very close,” but nothing had been finalized yet.