The Spanish national team returned to Spanish soil on Monday night to celebrate their Euro 2024 title with the fans, with thousands turning out to see them at Cibeles. There was no shortage of incident during the celebrations either.
Rodri Hernandez has attracted plenty of ire for chanting ‘Gibraltar is Spanish’, while captain Alvaro Morata was seen throwing a cup at a fan because he did not like what their sign said. However Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal has also caught the eye.
There were plenty of eye-catching scenes during Spain's #Euro2024 celebrations, and one gathering particular pace in Spain was Dani Carvajal's greeting, or lack thereof, with President Pedro Sanchez.pic.twitter.com/PM86QoM370
— Football España (@footballespana_) July 16, 2024
As the players greeted President Pedro Sanchez, Carvajal barely looked at Sanchez as he shook his hand. The reality is that many of the Spain squad showed little warmth to Sanchez, either during their greetings or the speeches at the government buildings.
Qué grande Carvajal! Qué grande nuestra selección! Ayer prohíben a Pedro Sánchez entrar en el vestuario y hoy pasando del truño y del teatro que había montado Sánchez para que los suyos aplaudan “a su persona”. Las cara! Las caras! Esta selección nos representa. Viva España! 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/7UJLZG8Fgl
— Isabel Rábago 🇪🇸 (@RABAGOISABEL) July 15, 2024
In particular, Carvajal’s case stands out because he has also been linked with politics of the far right though, despite never voicing these views himself publicly. According to Relevo, this is being celebrated by the Royal Spanish Football Federation as a victory of sorts, amid tense relations between the RFEF and the Spanish Government.
The Ministry for Sport were quick to act against ex-President Luis Rubiales after he sexually assaulted Jenni Hermoso, and have now moved to suspend his successor Pedro Rocha for flaunting the rules as the interim president. They feel Carvajal’s cold shoulder was a sign of support. Reportedly the Spain dressing room also rejected the idea of Sanchez or any other government ministers entering during the Euros.
Carvajal during Euro 2024 told the media that unlike Kylian Mbappe, he did not think it was football’s place to intervene in politics. He also refused to condemn Rubiales for the Hermoso incident at the time, and holds a strong relationship with Rubiales. Touching on the issue again during Euro 2024, he said he had not positioned himself for or against anything.
