Spanish conservative media picked up on the story, with ABC reporting “Cibeles, epicentre of the Gibraltar is Spanish party”. Cibeles is a reference to Plaza Cibeles, the central square where the celebrations ended.
The Gibraltar FA subsequently said in a statement that it “has noted the extremely provocative and insulting nature of the celebrations around the Spanish Men’s national team winning Euro 2024.”
Picardo then added on social media that he “fully” supports the complaint. “This cannot stand unchallenged,” he wrote. “The Rock is OURS.”
HM Government of Gibraltar said in a statement it was “disappointed” by the remarks which were “hugely offensive to Gibraltarians”.
“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,” a statement said.
Despite being a British Overseas Territory, Gibraltar has long been reclaimed by some in Spain who dispute the terms of the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, in which Spain ceded the territory to Britain.
The furore comes as Britain and Spain are trying to reach a post-Brexit deal over Gibraltar after months of stalled talks. Rodri was among the Spain team who took turns to chant or dance to the delight of the crowd in what was largely a good- natured celebration of Spain’s 2-1 victory over England in Sunday’s final.
Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old Spanish wonderkid, danced on the stage and in the team bus. Reports in Spanish media suggested Yamal was the object of some racist chants from supporters, who shouted “Yamal eat pork”. Yamal’s father is from Morocco and his mother is from Equatorial Guinea.
Earlier, the team had paraded the Euro 2024 trophy through the streets of the Spanish capital.
The players had been presented to Spanish King Felipe VI, Queen Letiza and the Princesses Leonor and Sofia. The team presented the Spanish king with T-shirts reading “Kings of Europe”. The squad was presented to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who hailed their achievement for Spain.