A pro-Scottish independence newspaper has issued an apology for resorting to “lazy stereotypes” after it was heavily criticised over its front page urging Spain to take “revenge” on England in the Euro 2024 final.
The National said it had set out to make a “light-hearted joke” but conceded it “crossed a line” in its poor depiction of England supporters.
Saturday’s front page – published the day before England’s 2-1 defeat to Spain – featured a mock-up image of Spanish star Rodri kicking an overweight, topless and tattooed England fan shaped like a football on a beach.
Under the social media post “our message to Spain”, the front page said: “Every summer, they fill up your beaches. They drink all your beer. They make a mess of your plazas.
“They eat fried breakfasts all day instead of your wonderful food.
“They retire in your towns, and sponge off your public services.
“Ni siquiera se molestan en aprender el idioma [they don’t even bother to learn the language]!
“The National says it’s… time for revenge!
“Our message to Spain: Save us from an England win (or we’ll never hear the end of it!)”
The splash sparked a wave of criticism and was even reported to Police Scotland as a hate crime.
However, the force said the front page did not meet the criteria of a hate crime under the new act.
The callers were instead given advice on making a complaint to the paper’s editor, Laura Webster, and ombudsman, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).
Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry, who often contributes to the paper, said she did not like the splash.
Author Christopher Brookmyre removed himself from The National’s Euro 2024 charity sweepstake, branding the front page “boorish, offensive and embarrassing”.
Even SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who openly supported whatever team England played against in the competition, appeared to take aim at it, saying: “Football rivalry at club and international level is normal and healthy. Without it the game is nothing.
“Lazy stereotypes, xenophobia and a dose of snobbery is not what rivalry, nor football, should be about.
“Let’s just stick to petty, ill-informed, good-natured and funny.”
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England fans said they were ‘wounded’ and ‘heartbroken’ after losing at the Euro 2024 final against Spain
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And in a statement posted on social media, The National said it had reflected on its decision-making and concluded that “we got this one wrong”.
The paper said: “We would like to address the reaction to Saturday’s front page.
“Readers of The National who have been with us for a long time will know that humour has always been a big part of what we do. Yes, we report on a lot of serious issues, but we also have fun with less serious stories.
“For Saturday’s front page, we set out to make a light-hearted joke that wouldn’t be taken too seriously in the build-up to a football match. Our intention was to make it over-the-top and tongue-in-cheek.
“However, we admit that the front page didn’t deliver what we set out to do. We leaned into lazy stereotypes, and we shouldn’t have.
“We have listened to feedback, reflected on our decision-making and have reached the conclusion that we got this one wrong. The front page crossed a line. We apologise.
“It is a privilege to be Scotland’s only newspaper that supports independence. This also comes with a responsibility to reflect the best of our movement, and that is what we promise to do going forward.”