Real Madrid warn of legal action against Juanma Castaño

Real Madrid have accused Cope broadcaster Juanma Castaño of comparing Real Madrid TV to the Basque newspaper Gara, and warned they may take legal action after the journalist published a column titled "Real Madrid, at war" in ABC on Tuesday.

Castaño wrote that "on official television, which is the Gara newspaper of ultra-Florentinism, they ask to leave national competitions," a reference to Real Madrid TV. Gara is widely regarded as close to ETA, the militant Basque separatist group.

Real Madrid's statement called the comparison "absolutely deplorable and unacceptable," adding that likening the club's official broadcaster to a paper whose history is tied to the world of the terrorist group ETA is "an extremely serious act that goes beyond all limits," and described it as the official media outlet of a club with 124 years of history, representing the feelings and values of millions of supporters worldwide. It said it reserves the right to take whatever measures it deems necessary in response to what it called a completely unacceptable attack.

Castaño responded on his programme El Partidazo de Cope.

"The comparison, the metaphor, is excessive. The comparison was uncalled for and I apologise for comparing Real Madrid TV to the newspaper Gara. I should not have done so in the newspaper ABC. That said, my opinion of Real Madrid TV is exactly the same as I express in the rest of the article, the same opinion I had yesterday and will have until Real Madrid TV changes the way it operates," said Castaño. "I withdraw the comparison, but Real Madrid TV lies, manipulates, singles people out and harasses. Let that be clear. It was unfortunate and wrong on my part, and at the same time I say that for me Real Madrid TV is an official media outlet of the club that lies, manipulates, singles people out and harasses. This is my opinion, without any comparison, and for that I insist, I apologise."

The column came in the aftermath of Real Madrid's 2-1 derby defeat to Atlético Madrid, in which Dean Huijsen was sent off and Real Madrid have separately called for the resignation of La Liga president Javier Tebas over the same match, and face a possible RFEF sanction after a five-minute delay to the second-half restart. The row over the officiating, and now over the coverage of it, follows a week in which the club also confirmed captain Federico Valverde suffered a serious ankle injury in the same game.

With Ancelotti's side already six points behind Barcelona and fixtures against Villarreal and Sevilla to come before the first Clásico of the season on 25 October, the dispute with Castaño adds to a period of open confrontation between Real Madrid and voices the club considers hostile, on top of the sporting questions still surrounding the derby defeat.