SPAIN: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Spaniards see UEFA's decision to admit Gibraltar as a challenge to Spain's sovereignty

Record ID: 862062

  • Title: SPAIN: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Spaniards see UEFA's decision to admit Gibraltar as a challenge to Spain's sovereignty
  • Date: 24th May 2013
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (MAY 24, 2013) (REUTERS) SPANISH FLAG IN THE DISTANCE AS TRAFFIC PASSES BY SPANISH FLAG SQUARE AND TRAFFIC PEOPLE CROSSING STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH RESIDENT CESAR LUSENDO ALONSO SAYING: "It's about Spanish sovereignty in Gibraltar, it's not English. It's an occupation and as such they will have to leave sooner or later. It shouldn't behave like a state separate to Spain." PEOPLE ON STREET AND BOY FALLING OFF SKATEBOARD VARIOUS OS STREETS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH RESIDENT MARISOL SAYING: "Of course I don't think it's right because it touches on sensitivities between England and Spain, especially on Spaniards." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON STREET
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • City:
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA8STKAZIP7QX7O8MWQG96TBUAW
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Spaniards on Friday (May 24) disagreed with UEFAs decision to accept Gibraltar as the 54th member of European soccer's governing body.
    The decision, made at a meeting of UEFA in London, comes after 14 years of asking. It enables the national team and clubs of the tiny United Kingdom overseas territory to take part in international competition.
    Spain continues to claim sovereignty over Gibraltar after it was ceded to Britain under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. For many in the Iberian country UEFA's decision to allow Gibraltar to become a member is an an attack on Spanish sensitivities and Spanish sovereignty.

    "It's about Spanish sovereignty in Gibraltar, it's not English. It's an occupation and as such they will have to leave sooner or later. It shouldn't behave like a state separate to Spain," Cesar Lusendo Alonso said in Madrid.

    "Of course I don't think it's right because it touches on sensitivities between England and Spain, especially on Spaniards," Marisol said.
    An edict from the Consejo Superior de Deportes to all sports federations in Spain says they should block any membership application from organisations in Gibraltar.
    Gibraltar, which was granted provisional membership last October, first applied for UEFA membership in 1999 but had faced fierce opposition from Spain. The overseas territory has less than 30,000 people in an area of only 6.5 square kms (2.5 square miles).
    In the past, Spain has threatened to boycott any competition in which teams from Gibraltar take part.
    Teams from Gibraltar will first feature in the qualifying competitions for the 2014 European under-17 and under-19 championships.
    Gibraltar have been drawn against England, Armenia and Ireland in the under-17 qualifiers and Croatia, Czech Republic and Cyprus in the under-19 tournaments.
    Their first full international competition is likely to be the qualifiers for Euro 2016.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register