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Spanish authorities have arrested a 19-year-old in Málaga for making online death threats against national team captain Álvaro Morata and his family, following Spain's penalty shootout loss to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final.
The threats, sent from the suspect's personal social media account, emerged shortly after Morata failed to convert a crucial penalty during the June 8 final in Germany, which ended in a 5-3 shootout victory for Portugal. The abusive messages targeted not only the Galatasaray striker, but also his children, sparking widespread outrage online.
Morata’s wife, Alice Campello, publicly condemned the abuse, sharing screenshots of the threats on Instagram. "These behaviors have become normalized in some areas, such as sports, favored by the anonymity provided by social networks and the speed with which they spread," police said in a statement, highlighting the growing problem of online harassment.
The case escalated rapidly when the suspect attempted to claim innocence by filing a police report alleging his account had been hacked. However, authorities soon grew suspicious due to discrepancies in his statement. "The inconsistencies in the complainant's statement, who was seeking an alibi to cover up the fact that he was the author of the comments, as well as other checks carried out by cyber agents, ended up incriminating the suspect, who admitted to the facts," the police confirmed.
Investigators from the Cybercrime Section cross-checked his social media activity and examined his phone, which ultimately provided the evidence needed to confirm his involvement.
The abuse came in the wake of Morata’s own somber post-match reflection, in which he hinted at stepping back from international duty. "It's possible I won't be back in September [for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers]," he said. "I feel bad for my teammates, but it's part of life. The penalty? I didn't take it well, I could have done better, but there's nothing I can do now."
Morata, 32, has netted 37 goals in 86 appearances for Spain and led the team to major successes including the 2023 Nations League title and victory at Euro 2024.
The incident underscores the rising concern over the impact of unchecked abuse on public figures, especially athletes in the digital age. Police emphasized the importance of addressing such conduct to prevent further normalization of violent threats online.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @alvaromorata
