Spanish Newspaper Says London Soccer Club Hated Over ‘Jewish Origin’
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
(JTA) — British soccer clubs have condemned an article in a Spanish daily newspaper that reported the “Jewish origin” of Tottenham Hotspur has caused the team to be hated by rival clubs’ fans.
The Madrid-based daily sports newspaper Marca published the article on Monday ahead of a match between the Spurs and Real Madrid as part of the Champions League play.
“Their Jewish origin has made them into a club hated by rival fans. But in their 135 years of existence they have always had style and great players,” the article said, in part.
In a clarification issued after publication, senior reporter Enrique Ortega wrote: “That ‘hatred’ that Tottenham suffers is very focused on the radical and racist groups that are hiding in the social mass, especially Chelsea and West Ham.”
The Tottenham team said in a statement: “We are astonished that a publication such as Marca, which presents itself as an alleged source of professional journalism, has seen fit to publish such an article which is blatantly wrong and wholly distasteful.”
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