The Andalusian rivalry that has seen club directors pushed around in their plush seats, family members insulted and a manager passing out on the pitch after being hit on the head with a bottle thrown from the stands was back this weekend with some of its usual drama including a last-minute victory, a glut of goals and plenty of middle fingers in the air. When the two sides met in November, Sevilla emerged triumphant over Real Betis as two goals by José Antonio Reyes ensured a 5-1 thrashing of their city neighbours, but while Los Rojiblancos may have enjoyed bragging rights for a short time, they now find themselves in the same predicament as in the autumn, trailing both the Verdiblancos … [Read more...] about La Liga: Seville and Betis share the honours
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Tales for Tapas: Life is a pleasure
A woman of international stature passed from the scene this week. Admired at home and abroad, she touched the lives of millions, a champion of personal freedom who nonetheless came to terms with dictatorship, her instincts were conservative but her choices were often daring – Sara Montiel, the venerable icon of stage and screen, died at her home in Madrid on Monday at the age of 85. Montiel personified – particularly in her later chat-show-celebrity-magazine incarnation – the superficiality of pop culture, yet that very superficiality may have been the key not only to her commercial success but to her importance to Spanish society, particularly in the 1960s. Montiel articulated a kitsch … [Read more...] about Tales for Tapas: Life is a pleasure
Spain’s rugby ambitions foiled in disastrous Six Nations
As this year’s Six Nations proper drew to a close with drama for the British sides, the same cannot be said for Spain and Portugal, who play in the tournament’s second tier. Mustering only a single win between them, the Iberian sides’ performances were sorely disappointing, given that both countries have been aiming to move up a notch in the rugby world, inspired by the example of Italy. And for Spain, a global superpower in so many other sports, this season has been particularly deflating. Played over a two-year cycle (2013-14) alongside the showpiece event, the European Nations Cup Division 1A, to give it its full name, also doubles up as the qualifying rounds of the Rugby World Cup … [Read more...] about Spain’s rugby ambitions foiled in disastrous Six Nations
Tales for Tapas: Money and mystique
The 19th-century British political economist Walter Bagehot noted that letting “daylight in upon the magic” of monarchy risks diminishing its mystique. A court summons, no doubt, represents a mystique-diminishing dose of daylight, and Princess Cristina’s scheduled April 27 appearance before a judge in Majorca may be dignified but is unlikely to be very edifying. Still, the royal families of Europe are not – and never have been – paragons of public virtue (as anyone who has spent time in Las Vegas recently may be able to testify). What makes the Nóos Affair so problematic is not simply that it is a royal scandal but that it is a royal financial scandal in the middle of a national financial … [Read more...] about Tales for Tapas: Money and mystique
Resign? You must be kidding
When is it appropriate for a public figure to resign? After displaying gross incompetence? In the wake of evident policy failure? Being caught up in criminal acts? It’s not always clear-cut. Sometimes resignation is an option, but not necessarily the only one. An apology might be just as fitting, or a temporary withdrawal from front-line exposure to the limelight. But in the last few weeks in Spain, there have been several cases that would seem to offer strong candidates for the sack. The most recent is that of Alberto Núñez Feijóo. On Sunday, El País newspaper published photographs showing that the Partido Popular’s premier of Galicia had been a good friend of Marcial Dorado Baúlde, … [Read more...] about Resign? You must be kidding
Farewell to ETA’s destroyer of peace
When Xabier López Peña was arrested in Bordeaux in 2008 on terrorism-related offences, he hardly looked like an archetypal leader of ETA. Portly, middle-aged and bespectacled, he didn’t even have the carefully sculptured mullet that so many Basque separatists insist on sporting. But as he was bundled away by French police, his wild shouts and screams at TV cameras hinted at the true nature of the man. López Peña, who died of a brain haemorrhage on Saturday, was held responsible by many for the collapse of the 2006 peace process that offered the hope of a lasting solution to the Basque conflict. As a result, many Basque separatists, as well as the mainstream politicians in Madrid, came … [Read more...] about Farewell to ETA’s destroyer of peace
Tales for Tapas: Management lessons
There had been gloomy predictions that Spain’s global soccer ascendancy might be coming to an end, but Tuesday evening’s victory over France was solid if not stellar. Coach Vicente Del Bosque, in characteristically imperturbable fashion, said the win “helps support the conviction we have in our ideas.” Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy would no doubt love to bask in the same warm glow of vindication, but this week’s economic data suggest he has as much chance of doing that as Scotland have of going to Rio de Janeiro next summer. Perhaps the most surprising (and dispiriting) thing about the latest batch of figures is that they are no longer very surprising. There was more resignation than … [Read more...] about Tales for Tapas: Management lessons
The fight for a fairer evictions law
An estimated 400,000 evictions have taken place across Spain since 2008. With one of the world's toughest mortgage laws, foreclosures are a much bigger problem in Spain than in other countries that have been suffering the ongoing economic crisis. The grassroots activists of the Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca (PAH) have been campaigning for a major change to this law, to redress the balance of power between banks and struggling homeowners. In this recent video, activists call on the governing Partido Popular (PP) to introduce that change and accept proposals in their Initiativa Legislativa Popular (ILP), a motion backed by 1.5 million signatories that includes the cancellation of … [Read more...] about The fight for a fairer evictions law
Almodóvar’s low-cost comedy fails to raise a laugh
What a shame Pedro Almodóvar’s latest flight of fancy wasn’t cancelled. Los amantes pasajeros (English title I'm So Excited) is an overlong, largely mirthless affair mostly set aboard a plane bound for Mexico City, but which we soon learn is in fact circling above Toledo because its landing gear has been screwed up by absent-minded ground staff Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas. Once purser Javier Cámara (who, as we are reminded on several occasions, cannot lie) reveals the awful truth, the prospect of imminent death prompts an outpouring of secrets from the crew and half-a-dozen business-class passengers, all of whom are straight from Almodóvar central casting: the three cabin crew are, … [Read more...] about Almodóvar’s low-cost comedy fails to raise a laugh
Tensions high ahead of Galician derby
The Galician derby between Deportivo la Coruna and Celta Vigo is usually one of La Liga’s most emotive occasions. Friday’s clash at Riazor should continue this tradition, for better or worse. A decade ago the game was a meeting of two of Spain’s top sides, with players like Mauro Silva, Alexander Mostovoi, Juan Carlos Valerón, Fran and Mazinho on show. Times have changed though. This year’s Riazor derby is the first in Primera Division for six seasons. Next season’s is likely to take place in La Segunda, as Depor are currently 20th in the table, Celta 19th, and both on the slide. Depor are really in trouble. Current coach Fernando Vázquez is their third boss this season, and he has … [Read more...] about Tensions high ahead of Galician derby