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Gibraltar Moves Closer to Soccer Independence Seeking Soccer Liberty
(about 2 hours later)
GIBRALTAR — The United States and the Soviet Union boycotted each other’s Olympics during the cold war. The United Nations used sports to take a stand against South Africa during apartheid. The latest flash point of sports and international politics: Gibraltar, the tiny tip of the Iberian Peninsula that for centuries has endured as a tug of war between Spain and Britain.GIBRALTAR — The United States and the Soviet Union boycotted each other’s Olympics during the cold war. The United Nations used sports to take a stand against South Africa during apartheid. The latest flash point of sports and international politics: Gibraltar, the tiny tip of the Iberian Peninsula that for centuries has endured as a tug of war between Spain and Britain.
The current dispute centers on the Gibraltar soccer team, an unlikely collection of amateur players who are generally considered past their athletic prime. But Gibraltar is not aiming to become a soccer powerhouse, at least any time soon. Gibraltar would simply like its soccer team to be recognized by the sport’s various governing bodies, and perhaps one day compete in the World Cup. The current dispute centers on the Gibraltar soccer team, an unlikely collection of amateur players who are generally considered past their athletic prime. But Gibraltar is not aiming to become a soccer powerhouse, at least not any time soon. Gibraltar would simply like its soccer team to be recognized by the sport’s various governing bodies, and perhaps one day to compete in the World Cup.
But Spain, the big next-door neighbor that happens to be the reigning World Cup and European champion, objects. Gibraltar is a territory that should not stand on its own, in soccer or otherwise, Spain argues.But Spain, the big next-door neighbor that happens to be the reigning World Cup and European champion, objects. Gibraltar is a territory that should not stand on its own, in soccer or otherwise, Spain argues.
The issue has stirred one of the most volatile, if obscure, disputes in international sports.The issue has stirred one of the most volatile, if obscure, disputes in international sports.
Spain has gone so far as to threaten to remove marquee clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona from European competition if Gibraltar is acknowledged as an independent soccer-playing country. UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, which was forced to admit Gibraltar as a provisional member last year, will decide whether to make it a full member at the organization’s annual congress Friday.Spain has gone so far as to threaten to remove marquee clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona from European competition if Gibraltar is acknowledged as an independent soccer-playing country. UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, which was forced to admit Gibraltar as a provisional member last year, will decide whether to make it a full member at the organization’s annual congress Friday.
“Gibraltar is still in the back of the Spanish mind,” said José María Carrascal, author of “La Batalla de Gibraltar,” or “The Battle of Gibraltar.”“Gibraltar is still in the back of the Spanish mind,” said José María Carrascal, author of “La Batalla de Gibraltar,” or “The Battle of Gibraltar.”
“For the older generation it is a big issue, and the youngest generation, I feel, are discovering it again. We have a colony on our soil.”“For the older generation it is a big issue, and the youngest generation, I feel, are discovering it again. We have a colony on our soil.”
In a response to a politician’s inquiry in December about resistance to Gibraltar’s membership in UEFA, the government provided a statement: “The government will continue opposing by all legal means to admit the Gibraltar Football Association as a full member of UEFA. The government will continue opposing holding competitions between the official sports teams of Spain and the combined sports of the colony of Gibraltar.”In a response to a politician’s inquiry in December about resistance to Gibraltar’s membership in UEFA, the government provided a statement: “The government will continue opposing by all legal means to admit the Gibraltar Football Association as a full member of UEFA. The government will continue opposing holding competitions between the official sports teams of Spain and the combined sports of the colony of Gibraltar.”
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the office of the prime minister declined to be interviewed. The government agency in charge of sports said only that the issue was being dealt with at “the highest diplomatic level.” The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the office of the prime minister declined interviews. The government agency in charge of sports said only that the issue was being dealt with at “the highest diplomatic level.”
At a recent practice under floodlights at Victoria Stadium here, the coach of Gibraltar’s national team tried to summarize the dispute.At a recent practice under floodlights at Victoria Stadium here, the coach of Gibraltar’s national team tried to summarize the dispute.
“Over there we have the world and European champions,” Coach Allen Bula said, pointing to the border between Gibraltar and Spain about a third of a mile away. “I would play them any day, any time, anywhere, anyhow.” “Over there we have the world and European champions,” Coach Allen Bula said, pointing to the border between Gibraltar and Spain about a third of a mile away. “I would play them any day, any time, anywhere, anyhow.
“The Spanish have stopped us from joining UEFA for political reasons and haven’t let us progress,” Bula added. “We have proved Spain wrong.” “The Spanish have stopped us from joining UEFA for political reasons and haven’t let us progress. We have proved Spain wrong.”
Gibraltar, population 30,000, is a British overseas territory. It was ceded in perpetuity to the British by the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, although Spain has long disputed the legality of that document. Since the treaty, the Spanish have begun two lengthy sieges against Gibraltar — to no avail. The British established a naval base, giving it strategic control over the Mediterranean. Gibraltar, population 30,000, is a British overseas territory. It was ceded in perpetuity to the British by the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, although Spain has long disputed the legality of that document. Since the treaty, the Spanish have conducted two lengthy sieges against Gibraltar — to no avail. The British established a naval base, giving it strategic control over the Mediterranean.
Today Gibraltar is a Little Britain. The Gibraltar pound, which is interchangeable with the British pound, is legal tender. Red British phone booths line the roads. Police wearing the distinctive British helmet patrol its streets. Low-cost airlines deposit British vacationers. Today Gibraltar is a Little Britain. The Gibraltar pound, which is interchangeable with the British pound, is legal tender. Red British phone booths line the roads. Police officers wearing the distinctive British helmet patrol its streets. Low-cost airlines deposit British vacationers.
Relations between Spain and Britain have remained largely untroubled by Gibraltar since the 1980s. But the election of a right-wing government in Spain, led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, has hardened attitudes.Relations between Spain and Britain have remained largely untroubled by Gibraltar since the 1980s. But the election of a right-wing government in Spain, led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, has hardened attitudes.
Gareth Latin, the president of the Gibraltar Football Association and the chief supporter of UEFA membership, said he was not worried.Gareth Latin, the president of the Gibraltar Football Association and the chief supporter of UEFA membership, said he was not worried.
“It started 16 years ago because you want to be part of the UEFA community, part of the family,” Latin said.“It started 16 years ago because you want to be part of the UEFA community, part of the family,” Latin said.
“Spain has publicly commented on being against us being members. We just want to be friends with all 53 and make people aware who we are.” He was referring to the number of members in the continental confederation.“Spain has publicly commented on being against us being members. We just want to be friends with all 53 and make people aware who we are.” He was referring to the number of members in the continental confederation.
Latin leads one of the world’s oldest soccer federations. It was formed in 1895, and the territory has 16 teams in two top-tier leagues. But it was not until 1997 that Gibraltar officially tried to join UEFA. A legal battle ensued, and ultimately the Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered UEFA to admit the territory as a provisional member.Latin leads one of the world’s oldest soccer federations. It was formed in 1895, and the territory has 16 teams in two top-tier leagues. But it was not until 1997 that Gibraltar officially tried to join UEFA. A legal battle ensued, and ultimately the Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered UEFA to admit the territory as a provisional member.
“There’s no way they can get around the C.A.S. decision,” said Paul Greene, an American sports lawyer who has won several cases at the court. “The whole point of C.A.S. is to not have politics involved. This isn’t about politics; this is about what the law says.”“There’s no way they can get around the C.A.S. decision,” said Paul Greene, an American sports lawyer who has won several cases at the court. “The whole point of C.A.S. is to not have politics involved. This isn’t about politics; this is about what the law says.”
Most of the national team’s players are amateurs who have full-time jobs. Many are approaching 30, their best playing days behind them. European competitions and the World Cup will await the next generation. The old guard is simply trying to set the stage. Most of the national team’s players are amateurs who have full-time jobs. Many are approaching 30, their best playing days behind them. European competitions and the World Cup await the next generation. The old guard is simply trying to set the stage.
Gibraltar’s provisional membership has allowed the territory access to several smaller UEFA competitions. Gibraltar secured its first UEFA victory, beating San Marino, currently Europe’s lowest-ranked team, 7-5. Gibraltar also beat the Faroe Islands, another member of UEFA and FIFA, 3-0, in an exhibition match last year, a victory that Bula said sent “shock waves throughout Europe.”Gibraltar’s provisional membership has allowed the territory access to several smaller UEFA competitions. Gibraltar secured its first UEFA victory, beating San Marino, currently Europe’s lowest-ranked team, 7-5. Gibraltar also beat the Faroe Islands, another member of UEFA and FIFA, 3-0, in an exhibition match last year, a victory that Bula said sent “shock waves throughout Europe.”
Gibraltar’s captain, Roy Chipolina, said: “By beating San Marino we proved we are at least at their level already. They’ve been playing for 8 to 10 years already and haven’t got a win. We’ve played three games.”Gibraltar’s captain, Roy Chipolina, said: “By beating San Marino we proved we are at least at their level already. They’ve been playing for 8 to 10 years already and haven’t got a win. We’ve played three games.”
Bula still hopes to settle a score with Spain.Bula still hopes to settle a score with Spain.
“When I took over there was one purpose,” he said. “To show Europe and the world that what Spain was saying — that we only wanted to join UEFA for political reasons, and that we didn’t have any quality — was a load of rubbish.” “When I took over, there was one purpose,” he said. “To show Europe and the world that what Spain was saying — that we only wanted to join UEFA for political reasons, and that we didn’t have any quality — was a load of rubbish.”

Alina Totti contributed reporting from Madrid.

Alina Totti contributed reporting from Madrid.