Sports website slammed for branding Wales with England football badge
A sports website has been slammed for branding Wales with the England football badge.
The Athletic UK came under fire for its graphic in an article that attempts to connect the members of England’s Euro 2020 squad to each of the 92 clubs in the English Football League – three of which are in Wales.
It depicts a map of England and Wales, all of which is branded with the three lions. The map is also missing Ynys Môn.
It was pointed out by angry people on social media that Wales has its own national football time, and it is also competing at Euro 2020.
It was described as a “travesty” by one person and another tweeted said that it “offends my soul”.
Has @TheAthleticUK's editorial board never heard of @Cymru? 🏴
Could somebody – anybody – have a word about this travesty of a graphic?
Absolutely pathetic. Somebody show @iangwyn. pic.twitter.com/RCkzS5M7AG
— Owen Williams 🏴 (@OwsWills) June 7, 2021
The headline of the article in The Athletic UK says: The squad the 92 built: The reasons every club should feel a connection to England’s Euro 2020 team.”
The article continues: “The squad has been named, the cuts have been made, football’s coming home.
“Or so some say. Across England, fans are getting their tournament wallcharts pinned up, ready to fill in; gatherings large, small and socially distanced will be planned and some beer-and-crisps runs may have already taken place.
“And this will be happening everywhere, not just in Manchester or Liverpool or London, where England’s big players are at England’s big clubs.”
‘Offends my soul’
ITV Wales journalist Paul Davies said: “This offends my soul”.
Social media expert Owen Williams said: “Has @TheAthleticUK’s editorial board never heard of @Cymru? Could somebody – anybody – have a word about this travesty of a graphic? Absolutely pathetic. Somebody show @iangwyn”.
Red Squirrel Marketing said: “Ummmmmm a few things up with this image @TheAthleticUK @TheAthletic
“(We understand that a few Welsh clubs make up the 92 in the English football pyramid… but c’mon, don’t cover Cymru in white and at least include Ynys Môn) @OwsWills.”
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Remember when the Eurocrats left Wales off the map of the UK!
The only time the term England and ‘Wales’ Cricket Team is quoted is when they mess up!
Ynys Mon goes its own way…Free Port!
‘Gareth’ Southgate…the clue is in the name!
These people don’t know the difference between England, Britain and the UK., but it is not difficult to understand. Either thick, lazy or both.
Very offensive
Meh. 3 Welsh clubs playing in the English system, a fun little attempt at padding out euro coverage, that’s all this is. Wait until we get the inevitable ‘Wales playing well today BUT LET’S TALK ABOUT MARCUS RASHFORD’S BOOT LACES – TOO LONG? WILL THIS EFFECT ENGLAND’S CHANCES NEXT WEEK OR… and Bale nets a second. Then we can all roll our eyes, realise that there isn’t a single aspect of public life that wouldnt be greatly improved once we’re independent, then work to get there. If half the energy we put into getting reflexively offended by both real and… Read more »
By ‘English system’ I of course mean the football league. Sorry Wrexham and Merthyr.
Indy will stop all this.
Yes, sooner the better 😊
Regardless of politics, the map makes no football sense. It looks like Wrexham are still one of the 92 clubs and that there is a league club in mid Wales but none in Swansea, Cardiff and Newport. Doesn’t even include Plymouth Argyle which is west of Aberystwyth!.
Amazing to see it was created by a sports website. TheAthletic should censure the creator for extreme ignorance and/or laziness! I actually find it impossible to be offended by such an incompetent article.
Anglesey appears to have fallen into the sea as well.
Ignoring the rest of the issues with that map, it’s super weird how common it is for Anglesey to missing from maps – tons of other examples online. Some kind of GIS error that keeps popping up?
Not heard of ‘The Athletic’ website before. I’m sure it is a fine exemplar of modern sports journalism. Maybe this “faux-pas” helped raise their profile with the less enlightened.
I see the original tweet was an advert, sorry… I mean, ‘sponsored’. The boys in marketing must be chuffed with getting extra bang for their buck by our unwitting patriots.
Top trolling, but trolling nonetheless.
We’re red and they’ll soon remember Cymru when we thrash them .. you can stick your f.. branding ..u.. y a ( to the tune of coming round the mountain ) 😎🏴