'Disgraceful and foolish' - Chief Minister says politics and sport should never mix

[@nickben2321]

Although I agree with the Chief Minister entirely with what he said - and I do not agree with him on many things - the fact that Spain won a prestigious sporting event and still mentioned Gibraltar, which is a small place by comparison, at the height of their celebration shows that Gibraltar is living rent-free in the minds and hearts of Spaniards! Gibraltar is Llanito! Even though the chants were disgraceful, foolish and insensitive, one can take it that even though Spain won a competition and got their egos inflated and were high on victory, Gibraltar was mentioned shows that for such a small place we are big and powerful like the Rock! Long live Gibraltar!

[@Lawrence423]

We are with you here in the UK.. I’m over for a few days break this month as well , carnt wait to be in Gib once more 🇬🇧🇬🇮

[@user-hq6hb2xv4n]

Alcalde, no te hagas la víctima y no seas ridículo

[@Miguel-fo9cd]

Yeah the britsh have pretty much broken the utretch treaty many times. So gibraltar is objectively spanish.

[@Le_Didi]

Picardo pásame la dieta

[@bobbybravo1576]

jajajajajajaj! es un Spitting Image ....

[@MiguelinoR]

Art. 10 del Tratado de Utrecht no daba la jurisprudencia a GB. Luego este señor ocupa un cargo ilegalmente, la policía gibraltareña no tiene jurisdicción ninguna, las aguas son también españolas y el aeropuerto fue construido ilegalmente, la expansión territorial hacia el norte con la excusa de las epidemias tampoco estaban en el tratado. Picardo no es más que un pirata inglés. Gibraltar es español según resoluciones de UN y GB la potencia colonialista. Punto.

[@anonnemo2504]

"High profile figure"? Why should anyone care what some kid who kicks a football about for a living thinks about the status of Gibraltar? He's probably not very bright and has little insight into history. He's probably never even heard of Franco and completely unaware of Spain's recent, shameful political history. The principle of Gibraltarians' rights to self-determination is all that matters here. Well said, Mr. Picardo. I wish we in the UK had a leader of his calibre.

[@AB-nf6jrja]

Treaty of Utrecht states Gibraltar has no Territorial jurisdiction. Gibraltar Español

[@user-hq6hb2xv4n]

Pero por qué les importa lo que diga un futbolista español, por qué están tan obsesionados con España.

[@mattjames88]

Gibraltar was not the one chatting about a foreign state - Spain is obsessed with Gibraltar. 🇬🇮 🇬🇧

[@user-hq6hb2xv4n]

@@mattjames88 Álvaro Morata is not "Spain", "Spain" wasn't chanting about Gibraltar. Seriously, why do you guys care so much about a bunch of drunk footballers from another country.

[@nickben2321]

@@user-hq6hb2xv4n True but Spanish football players, who are supposed to represent Spain in a competition, did mention Gibraltar. Clearly, Gibraltar is living rent-free in the minds of some Spaniards. Maybe not all Spaniards. But it is amusing that there are Spaniards - though reminiscent of fascist thinking - at the height of their celebration and achievement have to mention Gibraltar - even though it is a small nation by comparison in size of Spain - to make themselves seem bigger than what they are when in reality all it did was degrade themselves for the world to see. One could conclude that there are those in Spain that are obsessed with Gibraltar and not in a loving way but wanting to conquer or reclaim as if Gibraltar is really something like a property that rightfully belongs to them. If that is the case, then Spain is historically guilty of doing no different than what England did over 300 years ago! That being said, you are correct that no one should take seriously comments made by football players, but it is amusing the timing of their comments. But what is really sad and the truth is that comments uttered by those football players or player are not just isolated to those football players. I once had a waiter in Cadiz made the same comment that Gibraltar is Spanish 6 years ago. I did not want to entertain him or have a fight with him and so I dismissed his comments at the time. He was not as young as the football players. So this suggests that this could be a prevalent attitude or thought amongst the Spanish population. So it is fair to say that Spain is obsessed with a defeat or loss that happened more than 300 years ago. Maybe not everyone in Spain, but not just a few people.

[@user-hq6hb2xv4n]

@@nickben2321 Trying to equate "Gibraltar Español" = Franco= Fascist is extremely silly and won't work. To begin with, it' the UN's stance on this issue (is the UN fascist then?) and to follow, it' Spain position as a state, one of the few issues in which all governments, right wing or left wing, agree. For Spain having an air-sea base of a (not always friendly) nuclear power is a security and survival issue, not a sovereignty issue. Gibraltar was taken by force and Spain can't take it back as of now. Spain is a good ally and trade partner of the UK (im both directions) and probably the closest thing to a friend UK has among the big EU countries. But this doesn't mean Spain does not have its own interests

[@nickben2321]

@@user-hq6hb2xv4n Interesting what you chose to respond to and focus on. I never mentioned Franco. You did. But let's not pretend that "Gibraltar Espanol" means respect to Gibraltar. Spain may not be a fascist country, but, let's face it, the chant "Gibraltar Espanol" is what? Progressive? Enlightened? Non-tribal? Since you mentioned Franco, well, who came up with "Gibraltar Espanol?" Either way, I do not care what you think.I never once mentioned the UN. You did. I only spoke about experiences to do with Spain and what some citizens have said about Gibraltar. Interesting you chose to ignore that nor acknowledge it. You say Spain is an ally towards UK. Can you say the same about its attitude towards Gibraltar? Either way, with all the respect that I can give you, since you have chosen to ignore all the words that I have previously mentioned, I will do the same to your - what I consider to be - irrelevant words and since you thought what I previously said was extremely silly and won't work, I will pay you with the same respect by saying your words about UN this and air-sea base this and nuclear power that and survival issue are extremely silly, irrelevant and pointless. Further, I never mentioned sovereignty. You did. What's more, Spaniards who come to work in Gibraltar should apologise to Gibraltar as their own government cannot or will provide jobs to them and, the irony is, that there are Gibraltarians that do respect and enjoy watching Spanish football and yet receive these chants as reward. Lastly, Gibraltarians actually contribute to the Spanish economy and yet they treat Gibraltarians with distrust and disrespect when crossing through the frontier. I do not know who you are and what nationality you are, but do not be so quick to be on the Spanish side and exonerate them from any wrongdoing and then pretend that Gibraltar are wrong in their reactions. Not everyone is stoic. That being said, Spain, or the players, were being petty with their chants and should be regarded accordingly. Good day!

[@martynreed835]

Probably PP and Vox supporters