Gibraltar has been granted full membership of Uefa and will take part in qualifying for the 2016 European championships. However, it will be kept apart from Spain which had opposed the Rock’s membership.
Gibraltar first applied in 1999 and the rules were subsequently changed so that only sovereign states could become members. However, the Court for Arbitration in Sports subsequently ruled that the rules could not be changed retrospectively. The Gibraltar Football Association subsequently hired a public relations firm to make its case for membership.
Gibraltar has been granted full membership of Uefa and will take part in qualifying for the 2016 European championships. However, it will be kept apart from Spain which had opposed the Rock’s membership.
Gibraltar first applied in 1999 and the rules were subsequently changed so that only sovereign states could become members. However, the Court for Arbitration in Sports subsequently ruled that the rules could not be changed retrospectively. The Gibraltar Football Association subsequently hired a public relations firm to make its case for membership.
With a population of some 30,000, Gibraltar will be the smallest entity represented in Uefa, behind San Marino with a population of 32,000. However, there is considerable enthusiasm for football on the Rock. It has a two tier domestic league with 17 clubs such as Lincoln, Manchester United (Gibraltar), Lynx and Lions Gibraltar.
Uefa membership will give the Rock an income of £2m to £3m which will be ploughed into grass roots football. There are plans for a new stadium with a 8,000 capacity.