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Montevideo, March 19th 2024 - 06:03 UTC

 

 

Spain will oppose by ‘all legal means’ Gibraltar’s full membership of UEFA

Wednesday, January 30th 2013 - 06:30 UTC
Full article 15 comments
Crest of Gibraltar Football Association founded in 1895 Crest of Gibraltar Football Association founded in 1895

The Spanish Government has made clear to Alfred Bosch, the speaker of Esquerra Republicana Catalonia (ERC) in Congress that it will oppose “by all legal means” Gibraltar’s admission as a full member of UEFA. Madrid said UEFA “should not be used for political purposes”.

In reply to Mr Bosch, calling for Spanish central government’s explanations for their refusal to accept Gibraltar as a member of UEFA, Madrid argues that the decade long claim from Gibraltar’s soccer federation to join the Championship is part the broader policy of trying to ‘grow’ Gibraltar international presence in various forums, all separate from the UK.

“This is something that Spain cannot accept,” says the Spanish executive.

Madrid responded to ERC unsuccessful attempts for international recognition of its sports bodies, by saying that UEFA “should not be used for political purposes”.

The ERC, (Republican Left of Catalonia) is a left wing political party in Spain and is the main sponsor of the independence movement from France and Spain in the territories known among Catalan nationalists as “Paisos Catalans”.
 

Categories: Politics, International.

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