A pro-independence Scottish newspaper has issued an apology for ‘leaning into lazy stereotypes’ following its controversial front page which called for Spain to get ‘revenge’ on England in the Euros final.
The National’s front page on Saturday featured Spanish midfielder Rodri kicking an overweight, tattooed England fan who had been photoshopped into the shape of a football.
In bold red ink, the paper’s headline stated it was Spain’s ‘time for revenge’ as it accused English people of ‘sponging off’ Spain’s public services. The ‘mean sprited’ remarks ignited fury online with one social media user asking ‘do the Scottish not go on holiday to Spain?’
The paper wrote: ‘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!).’
Social media users were quick to condemn the article with many labelling it ’embarrassing’ and ‘horrible’.
Now, in a grovelling apology, the National’s editor Laura Webster issued a statement on X where she admitted the Scottish paper ‘got this wrong and we apologise.’
She said: ‘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.’
It is not the first time The National has drawn criticism for its coverage of events.
After it was launched following the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 its unabashedly pro-independence stance has seen it widely ridiculed.
Labour peer George Foulkes quickly dubbed it ‘McPravda’, a reference to the state owned newspaper in the Soviet Union.
But sales of the paper remain low, from January to December 2022 ABC calculated its circulation at just 3,555 per issue.
In comparison the Scottish regional based in Aberdeen, The Press & Journal sold almost 23,000 daily from July to December 2023. Whereas another Scottish regional, The Courier based in Dundee, sold 17,000 each day, according to Press Gazette.
Last night’s Euros 2024 final between England and Spain ended in heartbreak for the Three Lions after the Spanish side defeated England 2-1.