Pro-independence Scottish newspaper apologises for 'leaning into lazy stereotypes' after its front page called for Spain to get 'revenge' on England in Euros final for 'eating fried breakfasts' and 'sponging off your public services'

A pro-independence Scottish paper has issued an apology for 'leaning into lazy stereotypes' pursuing its arguable beforehand leafage which called for Spain to get 'revenge' connected England successful the Euros final.  

The National's beforehand leafage connected Saturday featured Spanish midfielder Rodri kicking an overweight, tattooed England instrumentality who had been photoshopped into the signifier of a football. 

In bold reddish ink, the paper's header stated it was Spain's 'time for revenge' arsenic it accused English radical of 'sponging off' Spain's nationalist services.  

The insubstantial wrote: 'Every summer, they capable up your beaches. They portion each your beer. They marque a messiness of your plazas. They devour fried breakfasts each time alternatively of your fantastic food. 

'They discontinue successful your towns, and sponge disconnected your nationalist services. Ni siquiera se molestan en aprender el idioma! (They don't adjacent fuss to larn the language!) The National says it's… Time for revenge! Our connection to Spain: Save america from an England triumph (or we'll ne'er perceive the extremity of it!).'

Social media users were speedy to condemn the nonfiction with galore labelling it 'embarrassing' and 'horrible'.

Now, successful a grovelling apology, the National's exertion Laura Webster issued a connection connected X wherever she admitted the Scottish insubstantial 'got this incorrect and we apologise.'

She said: 'Readers of The National who person been with america for a agelong clip volition cognize that humour has ever been a large portion of what we do. Yes, we study connected a batch of superior issues, but we besides person amusive with less-serious stories.

'For Saturday's beforehand page, we acceptable retired to marque a light-hearted gag that wouldn't beryllium taken excessively earnestly successful the build-up to a shot match. Our volition was to marque it over-the-top and tongue-in-cheek.

'However, we admit that the beforehand leafage didn't present what we acceptable retired to do. We leaned into lazy stereotypes, and we shouldn't have. We person listened to feedback, reflected connected our decision-making and person reached the decision that we got this 1 wrong. The beforehand leafage crossed a line. We apologise.

'It is simply a privilege to beryllium Scotland's lone paper that supports independence. This besides comes with a work to bespeak the champion of our movement, and that is what we committedness to bash going forward.' 

It is not the archetypal clip The National has drawn disapproval for its sum of events.

After it was launched pursuing the Scottish independency referendum successful 2014 its unabashedly pro-independence stance has seen it wide ridiculed.

Labour adjacent George Foulkes rapidly dubbed it 'McPravda', a notation to the authorities owned paper successful the Soviet Union.

But income of the insubstantial stay low, from January to December 2022 ABC calculated its circulation astatine conscionable 3,555 per issue.

In examination the Scottish determination based successful Aberdeen, The Press & Journal sold astir 23,000 regular from July to December 2023. Whereas different Scottish regional, The Courier based successful Dundee, sold 17,000 each day, according to Press Gazette.

Last night's Euros 2024 last betwixt England and Spain ended successful heartbreak for the Three Lions aft the Spanish broadside defeated England 2-1.