THIS is the moment Man City star Rodri chanted “Gibraltar is Spanish” at a wild Euros party in Madrid.
The Spanish midfielder, 28, also said he “doesn’t care” about playing in the UK after his country beat England in a 2-1 win on Sunday.
Celebrating Spain’s fourth Euros win on Monday night, Rodri could be seen chanting about the country’s ownership of Gibraltar, despite it belonging to the UK.
After a quick audience with Spain’s King Felipe VI and his family, him and his teammates were paraded through Madrid’s Cibeles Square in an open-top bus.
During the celebrations, they were given microphones and everyone had their turn speaking to the crowds.
And when Rodri’s turn came up, he chose to sing “It’s Spanish, Gibraltar is Spanish” when he walked the stage in front of thousands of fans.
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Spain captain Alvaro Morata reminded his teammate that he played in the Premier League, but the Manchester City player was quick to reply: “I don’t care.”
But Rodri’s chants were not well-received by social media, with one user tweeting: “Used to play in England*”
Another said: “Not the brightest spark. Can we ask his views on Ceuta and Melilla?”
Recognised as autonomous Spanish cities, both are located on the coast of North Africa, bordering Morocco.
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Officials in Gibraltar also blasted Rodri’s commemorations.
What is the row over Gibraltar?
THE dispute between the UK and Spain over Gibraltar revolves around issues of sovereignty and territorial waters.
Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, has been under British control since 1713 following the Treaty of Utrecht.
But Spain has long contested British sovereignty over Gibraltar, claiming that it should be part of Spanish territory.
Spain argues that Gibraltar is a colonial relic and should be returned to Spanish sovereignty.
The UK, however, maintains its control over Gibraltar, emphasising the wishes of the Gibraltarian people, who have consistently expressed a desire to remain under British sovereignty in referendum.
There are disputes over the extent of Gibraltar’s territorial waters. Spain does not recognise the waters around Gibraltar as British, leading to tensions and incidents between Spanish and British vessels.
The land border between Gibraltar and Spain has also been a source of tension, with periodic disruptions and stricter controls imposed by Spain, affecting the flow of people and goods.
The UK’s exit from the EU has added another layer of complexity to the issue, particularly concerning the free movement of people and goods across the border.
Negotiations are ongoing to address the implications of Brexit for Gibraltar and its relationship with both Spain and the EU.
Authorities said they were “disappointed” by the remarks as they were “totally unnecessary” and “hugely offensive to Gibraltarians”.
A statement read: “The lamentable use of the platform of celebrations around winning the Eurocup for advancing the idea of usurping the territory of Gibraltar is contrary to the principle that sport should not be used to advance any politically controversial ideology.”
The Gibraltar FA is also set to make official complaint to UEFA following the “unacceptable” chanting.
In an official note, it said: “The Gibraltar FA has noted the extremely provocative and insulting nature of the celebrations around the Spanish Men’s national team winning Euro 2024.
“The Association is this morning taking advice on the filing of a complaint to European Football’s governing body, UEFA, in relation to the unacceptable chanting and songs, relating to Gibraltar, sung by Spain’s Men’s National Team players after winning Euro 2024.
“Football has no place for behaviour of this nature.”
Rodri, whose full name is Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, joined Manchester City in July 2019 from Atlético Madrid for a then club-record fee of approximately £60 million.
Since his arrival, Rodri has established himself as a key defensive midfielder under manager Pep Guardiola.
Known for his excellent passing, tactical intelligence, and ability to break up opposition play, he has been integral to City’s success.
During his time at Manchester City, Rodri has helped the club win multiple trophies, including Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.
His performances have been marked by consistent defensive solidity and his role as a deep-lying playmaker, which has been crucial in City’s possession-based style of play.
As a national player, Rodri has now crowned Spain as the Euro 2024 winner as England was knocked down to second place for two editions in a row.
Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate has quit as England manager after Sunday’s tragedy in Berlin.
The coach leaves the role after eight years in charge of the national team despite his contract running out in December.
Southgate flirted with the prospect of walking away from the job before the tournament got underway last month.
And the former England defender has opted to step down from his role after the best part of a decade in the job.
A statement from Southgate read in part: “As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England. It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all.
“But it’s time for change, and for a new chapter. Sunday’s final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager.
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“We have the best fans in the world, and their support has meant the world to me. I’m an England fan and I always will be.
“Thank you, England – for everything.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
