• The settlement figure requested by “El Murga” bar owner for financial settlement was extortionate and entirely unacceptable.
• HMGOG has been negotiating with Mr Asquez for over a year and had proposed a reasonable compensation package.
• HMGOG owns the land at Victoria Stadium – s.66 notice entirely proper process under the Landlord and Tenant Act

His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar has been negotiating for over a year with the owner of “El Murga” bar regarding the planned and approved demolition of the Victoria Stadium.

The following points are provided for clarity and to ensure transparency in this matter, and to avoid a false narrative being promoted by the owner of the eponymous bar and his supporters, and so that the public understand the reality of the situation:

1. HMGoG made every effort to settle financially with the owner of El Murga bar in an attempt to reach an amicable resolution. However, the compensation being demanded is extortionate and far exceeded any reasonable figure calculated based on potential loss of earnings. In the interest of Gibraltar’s taxpayers, HMGoG could not agree to such a disproportionate sum.
2. The stadium will be developed by Stadium Development Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the GFA. HMGoG’s involvement vis-à-vis “El Murga” bar is to grant the GFA a vacated site, in keeping with the obligation to give vacant possession as is required under the terms of their agreement.
3. The Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) has made a substantial financial commitment of £16.5 million in exchange for development rights over the site in question. These grant the GFA the authority to develop the land as part of the project to construct a new UEFA Category 4 Stadium.
4. As the current legal owner, HMGoG has the authority, through His Excellency the Governor, to issue a Section 66 notice.
5. GFA National Stadium Limited and Stadium Development Limited are both subsidiaries of the GFA. The GFA is owned and operates for the benefit of its members and there are no individuals involved in its ownership such which would require any relevant registrations.

Mr Asquez, the owner of El Murga bar, is fully aware that the land in question belongs to HMGoG. All discussions and negotiations regarding the surrender of the property have been exclusively with HMGoG, as recognised by Mr Asquez in recent media interviews, further confirming his acknowledgment of the Government’s ownership over the site in question.

Most importantly, Mr Asquez was offered a generous compensation package by HMGoG, which he refused. Instead, he has sought to demand an amount, which far exceeded that which HMGOG is advised, is the compensation due to him. The Government, as the custodian of the public purse, cannot agree to this extortionate request and is committed to ensuring that the redevelopment of the Victoria Stadium proceeds as planned, for the benefit of Gibraltar’s sporting community and the wider public. HMGOG has found that the only recourse available was to issue the S.66 notice.  The Government will not allow this important project to be held to ransom to the detriment of the whole community because of one individual's extortionate demands.