13/05/2008

Maybe publishing pics of fans of Spanish football club, Espanyol, is easier after all.

Following yesterday’s Spike tale - here - of the Evening Times publishing a pic of Espanyol fans, to accompany a piece about Rangers ones, it has since emerged that the paper has apologised for airbrushing out an Ulster flag being waved by supporters of the Glasgow club.

The airbrushing prompted, it is believed, various complaints, including from Northern Ireland MP, Gregory Campbell, who wrote: “The Red Hand of Ulster is a symbol used by people from both sides of the community in Northern Ireland. It features prominently in the flag of Northern Ireland; it is used by the GAA as well as being displayed, as in this case, on the banners of people who are legitimate and properly registered supporters of Glasgow Rangers football club. It features prominently as part of the logos of many organisations ranging from the Ulster Farmers Union to the Ulster Rugby team.
    
“I am at a loss to understand why the Glasgow Evening News [sic] would have spent time and effort removing the Red Hand of Ulster from the pictures they carried of the crowd at the recent UEFA semi-final featuring Rangers. I have made contact with the Evening News in an effort to see if they have a reason for this censorship.

“I trust they will admit their unprofessionalism and issue an unequivocal apology to the supporters for their actions. It is particularly galling when this club has raised thousands of pounds for charities that offer help to people from all sections of the community.”

Under the headline, ‘Own Goal Over Altered Image’, the Evening Times on Friday said: “While the photograph appeared in full in the online edition, we have received a number of complaints from readers. Today, Evening Times editor, Donald Martin, said: ‘As a Glasgow based newspaper, we are always mindful of the sensitivities involved in covering the Old Firm. We are champions of both clubs and their supporters and always try to ensure our coverage is balanced.

“‘On this occasion we failed to take into account that the fans were displaying a recognised flag. The picture was, however, used in full online. We apologise for any upset we may have caused and wish Rangers and their supporters the best of luck on Wednesday.’”

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