The decision came two days after FIFA rejected Gibraltar's application for membership on the world governing body.

UEFA said it ``had no choice'' but to admit the Gibraltar Football Association after a ruling by world sport's highest tribunal. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled this month in favour of Gibraltar's application.

``The UEFA executive committee has also taken note of the decision of the FIFA executive committee, according to which the GFA does not meet the statutory requirements to become a FIFA member,'' UEFA said in a statement.

Spain is expected to seek support in opposing full membership, which would allow Gibraltar to field a team in European competitions, including qualifying for the 2012 European Championship.

Full membership can only be granted by UEFA's Congress, which meets Jan. 26-27 in Duesseldorf, Germany. But, even if the congress approves the membership, an association that is not a part of FIFA cannot be a member of UEFA.

Gibraltar, on Spain's southernmost tip, has been a frequent source of tension between Britain and Spain, which claims sovereignty over the territory.

Spain said UEFA's own statutes exclude Gibraltar, because the British colony does not have individual representation at the United Nations.

In 1999, Spain succeeded in having UEFA change its rules so that new members have to be U.N.-recognized states. However, Gibraltar's original application predates this change and the soccer association hopes to avoid exclusion.

Gibraltar's soccer team is more than 100 years old.

A rocky territory where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, Gibraltar has a population of about 29,000 and sends teams of competitors to the Commonwealth Games. It does not have a recognized National Olympic Committee.

UEFA's Congress will also vote on Montenegro's application for full membership.

The Balkan country gained independence after it split from Serbia this year and was granted provisional membership by UEFA in October.

Both Montenegro and Serbia were part of the old Yugoslav federation. Serbia succeeded the former Yugoslavia in UEFA's records and was not required to seek readmission.