the construction of the stadium was controversial as it was built on the disputed isthmus between gibraltar and spain. when the gibraltar football association applied for membership of uefa in 2007, spanish-led opposition caused fifa officials to look at the wording of the treaty of utrecht which ceded gibraltar to the united kingdom in 1713. in it, they claimed that there was a loophole in the treaty which they claimed violated fifa regulations in that the national stadium had to be built on undisputed land. as victoria stadium was built on the isthmus which was not mentioned in the treaty of utrecht but ceded later and this fact was pointed out to uefa members, gibraltar's application was voted by uefa's member associations to be rejected. only the home nations of england, wales and scotland voted in favour of them joining.