Spain warns UEFA on Gibraltar issue

Spain has warned European football's governing body -- UEFA -- that it will pull out of the organisation if the British colony of Gibraltar is allowed to join.

In a letter, the Spanish Football Federation said it radically opposed Gibraltar's membership of the organisation and would refuse to take part in any competition which involved the colony.

UEFA is expected to discuss a request from Gibraltar for membership at the weekend.

The territory, which lies at the southern tip of Spain, was ceded to Britain in the eighteenth century.

But Spain has made continued efforts to regain sovereignty.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service