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Despite Spain's claims, the residents of Gibraltar overwhelmingly prefer to remain British. The area's inclusion in UEFA has also sparked controversy; when Gibraltar applied for UEFA membership in 1999, Spain vehemently opposed it, fearing a precedent for other separatist regions. Gaining full membership in 2013, UEFA strategically separated Gibraltar from Spain in qualifying draws to evade potential conflicts, thereby preventing any situation where Spain would have to acknowledge Gibraltar as an independent nation.