Ambassador complains to RTÉ over World Cup report
SENAN HOGAN, IRISH TIMESTHE SPANISH ambassador officially complained to RTÉ about a TV sports report during which Spanish people were branded as “idiots” on the day after they won the World Cup for the first time in their history.
The broadcaster also said it received three e-mails and a phone call from viewers about the “anti-Spanish” tone of the Nine O’ Clock News dispatch on celebrations in Barcelona, which is in the fiercely independent Catalan region.
During the report, soccer correspondent Tony O’Donoghue interviewed a woman, during a street party, who said: “I hate Spain. I am Catalan, not Spanish.”
O’Donoghue then asked: “Even after winning the World Cup?
She replied: “Spanish people is idiot!”
RTÉ said it took the official letter of complaint from Spanish ambassador, Dona Mercedes Rico, very seriously, and formally responded to it.
An RTÉ spokeswoman added: “Yes, I can confirm that we did receive a letter of complaint from the Spanish ambassador about a report that was broadcast on RTÉ News on Monday, 12th July, and we responded.
“We also received one phone call and three e-mails complaining about the report’s ‘anti-Spanish’ tone.”
Barcelona FC had six players on the starting 11 that eventually beat the Netherlands by 1-0 after extra time in Soccer City in Johannesburg on July 11th.
I don’t know on what grounds the ambassador saw fit to complain about this report, except that this woman’s opinion is not representative of the majority of Catalans. Only 16% of them feel like this particular idiot, according to the latest survey on political options for Catalonia. One possible definition of idiot is someone who cannot be happy for their neighbours when they are celebrating because they take their politics too seriously. Of course if you don’t like football at all, you may with some justification think that people who jump into the fountains just because “their” team won are indeed idiots. Probably the biggest idiot (or eejit) of them all is the RTE News editor who thought political opinions should be included in a sports report.
Only one 43% of people who are living in Catalonia are against the independence (NOXA study reported by La Vanguardia: http://www.lavanguardia.es/politica/noticias/20100718/53967434806/el-fallo-del-tc-catapulta-el-respaldo-a-la-independencia-que-roza-el-50.html). then you should inform before you write. We are living now a rising of identity conflict, and you can confirm that just looking at balconies in Barcelona, which you can see many Spanish, Catalan and Catalan independentist flags. In my opinion, we are going to a two separated societies like in northern Ireland living appart. And I guess it will be more confortable for both parts.
Why don’t you talk about de demonstration of more than one million people in Barcelona the day before for the independence?
BMD: I will pay for T shirts to printed. “Spanish people is idiot” is the new “can I haz…”
I could see that taking off!
Neil, it was another survey that they asked for the vote in a referendum. It was 47 % proindependence and a 36% that didn’t want it (another % is divided in a 5% that doesn’t know what to vote, a 3% that is going to vote in white and the 7% isn’t going to vote).
seems you’re right. I must have misheard what they said on the radio the other day. It surprised me but I didn’t verify it first before posting, sorry.
I still find it surprising that only a small percentage would vote AGAINST independence. But you know, these surveys can be manipulative. It all depends on the way the questions are framed and they tend not to tell you those details in the report. I don’t live in Cataluña and I do not like the centrifugal tendencies in Spanish politics. I think it’s childish and selfish.
I do not care if they want to be independent or not from Spain… It is me who wants independence from them… I am tired of spending money, efforts and time talking and making laws “ad hoc” for some parts of Spain. I want spanish politicians to spend their time in some other things that I find more important… economical CRISIS for example…
Please, make a referendum, hopefully the independence of Catalonia and any other part of Spain comes and we can life better without them…
Of course, no public services, no governmental money, no train, no airports, no water, no electricity, no Catalonian teams playing in spanish leagues, no EURO… but I am sure that everybody would be much happier if Catalonia is an independent country.
Good luck and count with my vote for you guys but please, leave us alone!