Anger in Colombia over English newspaper front page headline
Tabloid newspaper The Sun used a play on words to combine a message of encouragement to star striker Harry Kane and cocaine, which didn't go down well. </br><a title=" Cruz Azul vs America: Liga MX, live online " href=" https://en.as.com/en/2019/10/06/football/1570313707_613870.html"> Cruz Azul vs America: Liga MX, live online </a>
The front page of English tabloid The Sun on the day of the World Cup match between Colombia and England has caused outrage in the South American country.
Cocaine inference not enjoyed in Colombia
The newspaper - one that has a controversial history thanks to coverage of stories such as the Hillsborough disaster - chose national hero Harry Kane as the face of their cover. This in itself is not controversial but they used a play on words to connect the term 'cocaine' as a natural association with Colombia.
"As 3 Lions face nation that gave world Shakira, great coffee and er, other stuff, we say... Go Kane!", read the headline. A message of encouragement for the Spurs striker but those final two syllables sound incredibly like the white powder made from the leaves of the coca plant.
Colombian revenge
Although many of the British readership may be avid fans of the series Narcos, a crime drama based on Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, the comparison did not go down well in the South American country.
"It's vulgar," said Caracol TV, with others saying the want to exact revenge in the game. "Colombia's response will be on the pitch," says El Espectador.
As some people have been suggesting, how would the UK media and people have reacted had Colombian papers carried headlines regarding England's obesity problem, for example. With others claiming it is just an innocent joke, no matter how you cut it, it still has the potential to be seen as quite rude. And plenty of supporters from both sides have taken to social media to show their disgust.
Sigh. Shameless nonsense as expected from the Sun.
— Matthew Brown (@mateobrown) July 3, 2018
'Other stuff' Colombia is responsible for might include its writers, peace process + biodiversity, let alone the amazing backstories of its players like Quintero.
'Go Kane' is also rubbish as a pun. https://t.co/G2J0aFTZqo
🤦♂️Are you serious?! As an Englishman living in Colombia for the last 6 years (and rooting for England tomorrow), just want to tell you this is embarrassing. Luckily though you're going out of business soon, I heard? Deary me. #dontbuythesun #fuckthesun
— Henry May 💛 (@henrymay73) July 3, 2018
In Brazil we gonna support Colombia because they became our brother due to their incredible support in Chapecoense’s case. This newspaper’s cover is absolutely bad taste. You should respect “los cafeteros”! Goooo Colombia! #COL
— Ricardo Toffoli (@rtoffoli) July 3, 2018
This is really disrespectful what kind of magazine is this are you serious? Colombia has one million great things you could have mentioned sarcasm does not make it better.
— Marla Lopez Leon (@LopLeonMarla5) July 3, 2018
Colombia lost 220,000 in its drug war.
— Sock Council (@SockCouncil) July 3, 2018
5.2 MILLION people were displaced as internal refugees.
The Sun makes cocaine/Colombia jokes.
Imagine their reaction to a Northern Ireland conflict joke in a Colombian paper?
Don’t buy the Sun.
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