S (ashirbaad) wrote in ontd_football,
S
ashirbaad
ontd_football

Marca takes batshit to a new level

If you're active on Twitter, you might have already heard this. If you haven't, here is the low down. Just when you thought your resident tabloid of choice Marca could sink no lower, they have taken your assumption by the throat and tossed it out the window. In his latest column, one of their editors/writers Miguel Serrano (apparently this is his Twitter account) wrote the following on Barcelona's deal with Qatar Foundation and the recent introduction of the smoking ban at Camp Nou:

(Note: These are translated to English by Tim Stannard of La Liga Loca)

“Thanks to the word revealed by Ayatola Pep, FC Barça has become FC Burka. In response to ‘Hala Madrid!’ the culés can say ‘Allah Barça!’”

“After putting themselves in Arab hands the prohibitions begin. Now you can’t smoke in the Camp Nou,” continues Miguel Serrano.

“You can’t rule out the players having to wear turbans and do stonings every Thursday. Now Barça is more than a club: it’s an Emirate.”


While this article isn't available in web version on Marca.com, this website uploaded the full text in Spanish.

It is extremely disappointing to see that very few people in the media have come out to openly condemn it. The fact that something as remarkably hateful and racist as this can be allowed to pass without consequences show the extent to which racism is becoming institutionalised in football. I know UEFA/FIFA/LFP do not have jurisdiction over Marca and the content they publish but surely someone in Spain has the authority to keep them in check?

However, what makes it more infuriating is the fact that Serrano claims to be voicing the opinions of Madridistas on the deal between Barcelona and Qatar Foundation. Marca has always tried to sell itself as Real Madrid's 'unofficial' mouthpiece. Even though Real Madrid has always maintained a considerable distance from them, and their general batshittyness, it was only since Mourinho took over that Marca's influence within the club has diminished. It's reported that Mourinho has suspended many of the privileges Marca used to enjoy previously - like insider info on transfers and team lineups prior to games.

While I understand why Real Madrid would want to avoid getting unnecessarily involved in this mess, I hope someone from the management would come out and strongly condemn it. It might be a small gesture but it can go a long way in this eternally uphill task of tackling racism in football. And I assume Barcelona might consider legal actions too? These are all long shots, but I'd certainly like to see someone in Spain taking Marca to task. It's one thing to hate on footballers, coaches and rival clubs, but to use the pretext of football to insult an entire religion is despicable. This article does not just reflect Serrano's mentality but that of the top hierarchy in Marca too, for allowing such a thing to be published.

Also, this hardly needs pointing out, but just in case, Marca is NOT Real Madrid's 'unofficial' mouthpiece. So if one journalist decides to spew racist insults against Barcelona, in no shape or manner does it imply Real Madrid are by default racist too.

Sources for the translations: 1, 2, 3.
Tags: club: barcelona
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