A Scottish newspaper, The National, has caused controversy with its front page ahead of the Euro 2024 final, urging Spain to defeat England. The headline read “Time For Revenge!” and included a cartoon of Spanish midfielder Rodri kicking an English tourist shaped like a football. The message asked Spain to “save us from an England win (or we’ll never hear the end of it).”
The front page also featured a satirical message criticizing English tourists in Spain: “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.” This was followed by the Spanish phrase “Ni siquiera se molestan en aprender el idioma!” translating to “They don’t even bother to learn the language!”
The rivalry between England and Scotland is longstanding, and the newspaper’s front page generated mixed reactions on social media. Some viewed it as harmless banter, while others criticized it as xenophobic. One user tweeted, “What’s wrong with banter? I mean most of the paragraph applies to Scots too. Take it with a pinch of salt.” However, another person questioned if it constituted hate speech under Scottish law.
Spain fans responded positively, with one saying, “Thank you, Scotland! Be welcome to Spain this summer.” Despite Scotland’s early exit from Euro 2024, many Scots are expected to support Spain in the final due to the deep-rooted rivalry with England.
Credit: Joe
