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Thursday, 24 September 2026dailybeirut.com
Football
Real Madrid TV reiterated its condemnation of Juanma Castaño’s comparison of the club’s official channel to the defunct newspaper Gara—linked to the ETA terrorist group—after his on-air apology and continued criticism.
Real Madrid TV has issued a renewed public rebuke of journalist Juanma Castaño following his formal apology for comparing the club’s official television channel to the Spanish newspaper Gara, which ceased publication in 1999 after being identified as part of the financial and structural network of the ETA terrorist organization.
The controversy erupted when Castaño made the comparison in an article published by ABC. In response, Real Madrid released an official statement declaring: “Our club believes that comparing the official media outlet of Real Madrid with a newspaper whose history is tied to the world of the ETA terrorist group constitutes an extremely serious practice that exceeds all boundaries.”
Castaño subsequently apologized during his radio program *El Partidazo*, stating: “It was an exaggeration. This comparison was unnecessary, and I apologize for likening Real Madrid TV to Gara. I apologize for that.”
Despite the apology, Castaño—reporter for Cadena COPE—maintained his critique of Real Madrid TV, asserting: “My opinion of Real Madrid TV remains unchanged from what was expressed elsewhere in the article and as it was yesterday, and will remain so until they change their conduct. Real Madrid TV lies, manipulates, points fingers, and harasses people.”
Following the apology, presenter Alvaro de la Lama addressed Castaño’s comments on the club’s program *Real Madrid Conecta*. He stated: “We should never cross the line into comparing Real Madrid TV with Gara, given what this country has endured in this context. I will not dwell on it—it does not merit attention. Juanma Castaño apologizes on his radio show. Is that apology acceptable? That is for each person to decide.”
De la Lama added: “My impression—and my personal view—is that he was determined to persist in this line. How so? He calls us liars. He calls us manipulators… Liars and manipulators about what? There are images that substantiate what we have argued day after day regarding the refereeing system.”
He concluded: “There is nothing personal in this matter—I say this because, in Juanma Castaño’s case, it appears to be personal. I consider it a personal matter, because no one will compare me to any terrorist group or any media outlet that defends—or has defended—a terrorist group. And now I speak directly to you, Alvaro de la Lama: no one will compare me to that. You apologize—but then… ‘liars and manipulators.’ There are images that prove the opposite.”
