Real Madrid followers sing ‘deeply offensive’ chant Rodri was banned for singing earlier than Man City conflict
Real Madrid fans have been filmed singing a ‘deeply offensive and discriminatory’ chant that Rodri was banned for chanting before their clash against Manchester City
Real Madrid fans were filmed singing a ‘deeply offensive’ chant
Real Madrid fans have been heard chanting a ‘deeply offensive and discriminatory chant’ ahead of their Champions League clash that once saw Rodri slapped with a ban.
Los Blancos arrive in Manchester for the second leg of their Champions League tie in a dream position. Federico Valverde’s first-half hat-trick stunned Pep Guardiola’s side and Real Madrid take the three-goal advantage to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
However, in the build-up to the game, a chant that has caused friction between Spanish, British and Gibraltar relations was sung by the travelling fans in the city centre outside a pub.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
A group of Real Madrid fans were recorded singing ‘Gibraltar is Spanish’, a chant that saw City midfielder Rodri and Spain team-mate Alvaro Morata banned for one international match after they sang it at the Euro 2024 celebration ceremony.
The incident received further scrutiny as it came after Spain beat England in the final in Germany. The Gibraltar Football Association lodged the official complaint that led to the players being banned.
Gibraltar is an enclave on Spain’s southern tip and has been under British rule since the 18th century following the Treaty of Utrecht. Spain have long called for its return, while Gibraltar is its own independent football team and association since 2013.
Speaking after the incident, Madrid’s conservative mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida claimed: “The players didn’t say anything that most Spaniards don’t believe.”
But Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo told Times Radio how damaging hearing the chant is. “Nothing is going to change as a result of a football match, or something a footballer in his 20s says, whether he is holding the European Cup or not. But it goes to the root of things that we find offensive. We’re a separate UEFA nation.”
He explained: “This comes from the days of General Franco that used to egg people on to make this sort of chant and to see young people take it over unthinkingly, without realising what it is that they are adopting.
“And to then to see in public, enjoying themselves, one of the sisters of the King of Spain and the mayor of Madrid chanting along is really quite soul-destroying, frankly.
“This is just utter nonsense, but it’s deeply offensive, deeply discriminatory, and not the sort of thing that we should see surrounding the magnificent sport of football, and such an excellent win on the pitch for Spain.”
