Juanma Castano apologises for comparing Real Madrid TV with Gara newspaper

Juanma Castano has apologised for comparing Real Madrid’s television channel with the Basque newspaper Gara, after the analogy prompted a strong response from the Spanish club.

The Cadena COPE presenter made the comparison in an opinion article published in ABC on Tuesday. Real Madrid subsequently issued a statement describing the article as “an extremely dangerous practice that exceeds all limits”.

Speaking on his programme Partidazo de COPE, Castano said the comparison had been inappropriate and should not have appeared in his article.

“The comparison, the metaphor, was excessive. There was no need for it, and I apologise for comparing Real Madrid TV with Gara. I should not have done that in the article,” he said.

Castano stressed, however, that withdrawing the analogy did not mean he had changed his broader view of Real Madrid’s channel.

“My opinion of Real Madrid TV remains exactly the same as the one I expressed in the rest of the article. It was my opinion yesterday and it will remain so until they change the way they behave,” he added.

According to Mundo Deportivo, he went on to say: “I withdraw the comparison, but Real Madrid TV lies, manipulates, targets people and harasses them. Let that be clear.

“I withdraw the comparison because it was ill-judged and wrong on my part. That is my opinion without making any comparison, and I repeat my apology for it.”

Criticism of Real Madrid’s media coverage

Castano’s article was headlined “Real Madrid at war” and focused on what he described as the club’s continuing state of conflict.

He argued that reducing Real Madrid’s problems to refereeing decisions overlooked other difficulties within the club. He nevertheless acknowledged that some controversial decisions during the Madrid derby deserved discussion.

The journalist also launched a strong criticism of Real Madrid TV, saying its approach formed part of a wider narrative that reinforced the idea that the club was constantly being targeted.

It was in that context that he made the comparison with Gara.

The newspaper has historical links to the separatist group ETA, which was involved in violence and armed attacks in Spain over several decades. Gara published statements and interviews with the group’s leaders on a number of occasions.

That background led Real Madrid to describe Castano’s comparison as “an extremely dangerous practice”.