SPECIAL REPORT: Uefa's newest members are seeking a way into the World Cup - and they want to play qualifiers in England's capital while new stadium plans are held up by red tape
Gibraltar are keen to play their next series of competitive games in London – hopefully in World Cup qualifying.
The only stadium in Gibraltar is inadequate and the newest members of Uefa are playing their home qualifiers for Euro 2016 in Faro, Portugal. It could be years before they can build a new home, so Gibraltar will be looking for another temporary base when they next compete in a qualifying phase.
"Faro was offered to us a long time ago and we have put in a bit of infrastructure there, so we will stick to Faro for this qualifying series," said Dennis Beiso, chief executive of the Gibraltar FA.
"But our project to build a new stadium at Europa Point has been caught up in red tape, and London is certainly an option in future. It's easier to get to, there's no language barrier, and it's something we will explore. We have a very good relationship with the English FA and I'm sure there wouldn't be a problem."
Their fans would welcome such a move. "We have made representations to the GFA to play home games at Fulham, and this is good news," said Shawn Ramos of the Gibraltar Supporters Asociation.
"Plenty of other countries play games in London, and we have a lot of expats living there, and plenty of Gibraltarian students studying there too. It makes sense for us and we'd love to have our games there because it would be a better atmosphere than Faro, and easier for us to get to."
The journey by road to Faro takes five to six hours each way. "It's a 15-hour round trip for us to a game," said Ramos. "London would be a direct flight and much easier. Nobody will mind having an overnight stay in London."
Gibraltar took about 700 fans to their game in Ireland, and their biggest turnout in Faro to date was about 2,000.
There are suitable stadiums within an hour or two of Gibraltar but they are in Spain and therefore not an option. Spain has always objected to Gibraltar being recognised as members of Uefa for political reasons, and Uefa kept the two apart in the draw.
Fulham would be the most likely host venue, though international matches have also been staged at Arsenal, QPR, Watford, Millwall, Brentford and Leyton Orient in recent years. Nigeria, Ghana and Australia have played several international friendlies in London, but Gibraltar would be the first overseas team to play competitive games in the English capital.
Gibraltar want to compete in World Cup qualifying for 2018 but must win a legal argument with Fifa first. The GFA applied for membership in 1997 but failed. After finally being accepted by Uefa in 2013 they tried Fifa again.
"Fifa are treating that as a new application, but we believe it is a revival of our 1997 attempt, not a fresh one," said Beiso. The regulations have changed since 1997, and under the new rules the Gibraltarians would not be eligible for Fifa membership because Gibraltar is not an independent country. But they would have been eligible under the old rules that applied in 1997.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport will make a ruling on the application. The next hearing is in May but a final decision might be many months away. "We will be seeking special dispensation," said Beiso. "We are exploring whether there is a way of competing in qualifying without being members of Fifa, while the case is being considered.
"There are plenty of other Fifa members who, like us, are overseas territories rather than independent countries." They include New Caledonia, American Samoa, Cayman Islands and the Faroe Islands, which are overseas territories of France, the United States, Britain and Denmark respectively.
