Scottish newspaper apologises after ‘anti-English’ front page before Euros final

The editor of Scotland’s The National newspaper, Laura Webster, has issued an apology after causing offence to English football fans.

Ahead of the Euros final, The National penned a front page which pictured a Spanish footballer kicking an English tourist shaped like a football – with the headline “time for revenge”.

The image was accompanied by the words: “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.”

After facing backlash from readers on X who said the front cover was ‘xenophobic’ and ‘anti-english’, Webster today issued an apology on the platform.

She wrote: “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.”

She added: “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.”

The front page outrage among football fans with some X users calling the apology “a little too late” and “crass”.

Others have praised The National for admitting a misstep and taking accountability for their mistake.