UEFA verdict set to pave the way for the Gibraltar National team - Watson

9.20.34am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 4th Oct 2006

The outcome of a meeting between UEFA officials this week may soon see a Gibraltarian national team competing alongside the world's biggest footballing nations for some of the sport's most coveted prizes, says Graham Watson, Liberal Democrat MEP for the South West and Gibraltar.

Speaking prior to Thursday's UEFA meeting in Ljubljana, Graham Watson MEP said:

"Gibraltar deserves to have its own football team and the expected decision by UEFA officials this week is yet another step towards Gibraltar being fully recognised. UEFA's decision will reverberate well beyond the footballing world."

Notes to Editors

On the agenda at Wednesday and Thursday's UEFA Executive Committee, meeting in Ljubljana, is the application for UEFA membership from the Gibraltar Football Association. Gibraltar FA's application has been pending since 1999 at the insistence of UEFA and pressure from Spain that only nations recognised by the United Nations should be permitted as members.

Following a landmark ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne this September which ruled that Spanish objections should be ignored, the bid by Gibraltar FA gained fresh hope. Whilst provisional membership should be granted this week, full membership will have to wait until January 2007, when UEFA Officials will again meet for the 16th UEFA Congress in Düsseldorf. If accepted, Gibraltar will be eligible to enter the qualifying competition for Euro 2012.