SFA’s support meant so much in fight for identity, says Beiso

GIBRALTAR FA chief executive Dennis Beiso will make an emotional return to Scotland this week, admitting his association owes a huge debt to the SFA for their participation in the Euro 2016 qualification process.

The Gibraltarians were formally awarded status as UEFA’s 54th member country in 2013, ending a long struggle to gain acceptance on the international stage.

The main hurdle stemmed from objection by Spain, who have disputed Gibraltar’s status as a UK territory for more than 300 years.

It took an adjudication from the Court of Arbitration for Sport to force the governing body’s hands but Beiso, who spent four years studying at St Andrews University, has not forgotten the longstanding support of the Scots for a process that began in 1997.

The teams meet for the first time at Hampden next Sunday and SFA president Campbell Ogilvie will welcome some very grateful guests.

‘I think there is a very nice feel to this game because we are playing against friends and people who have been there for us since we started this UEFA adventure,’ said Beiso.

‘The Scottish FA were one of only three national associations to support Gibraltar in the first UEFA congress in 2007, the others being Wales and Ireland.

‘Whenever we see Campbell, we always make a point of letting him know that we are grateful for all that Scotland have done. That doesn’t mean we are going to roll over on Sunday though!’

With a population of just 30,000, Gibraltar now stands as UEFA’s smallest member and face another big fight to gain recognition by FIFA, in order to be granted dispensation to compete in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

‘Regrettably, we will be going back to CAS and have been given a date of May 21 for the first hearing,’ continued Beiso. ‘This is not the way we wanted things to happen. We still hope that FIFA membership is a natural progression.

‘We feel the arguments being used against us are nonsensical and have no basis in sport or law. We are very confident we will be successful.’