Alvaro Morata, the Spanish international forward, has incurred the wrath of Moroccan fans following Spain’s victory in the Euro 2024 final.
On Sunday night, Spain clinched their fourth Euro title by defeating England 2-1. Celebrations ensued the next day at Madrid’s Plaza de Cibeles, where players sparked controversy. Following Rodri’s lead, teammates taunted the English by chanting “Gibraltar is Spanish,” referring to the enclave at the southern tip of Andalusia, claimed by Spain but under British sovereignty, facing Morocco’s coast.
Morata stirred further controversy by taking a dig at Morocco, whom Spain famously faced in the 2022 World Cup Round of 16 (0-0, 3-0 after penalties). “Morocco too! (implying ‘Morocco is Spanish’ like Gibraltar),” quipped the future AC Milan player, who had taken up the role of speaker.
Predictably, his remarks ignited anger among Moroccans on social media, leading to heated exchanges. Moroccan users vehemently criticized Morata with harsh comments, while some Spaniards disputed the attributed remarks, claiming they were barely audible amid the nighttime cacophony.
This incident adds to the recent spotlight on the Spanish-Moroccan rivalry, intensified by player selection choices like Lamine Yamal and Brahim Diaz, and the ongoing battle to host the 2030 World Cup final.
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