Televisión Española issued an official apology after a comment by Carlos de Andrés during the broadcast of the 14th stage of the Vuelta a España, aired on September 3. The remark referenced a 1991 murder in Mancha Real, Jaén, and, as noted by local media, sparked a wave of racist incidents in the town’s aftermath.
As the cycling peloton moved through Jaén, the commentator remarked that Mancha Real had been well known years ago for a horrific crime, a pronouncement that offended many residents. The mayor, María del Mar Dávila, publicly voiced her disagreement with the platform and called for accountability from the public broadcaster.
In her statement, the mayor urged: as the caravan passes Mancha Real, an apology from Televisión Española is warranted for the way the incident was framed on the La Vuelta broadcast. Our municipality represents far more than a single, dark episode. It has a long history and a community that continues to grow and contribute in countless ways.
She added that Mancha Real is home to honest, entrepreneurial, hardworking people who believe in their potential and strive to improve each day. The mayor emphasized that the town should not be judged by a single moment in its past, urging a broader, more respectful portrayal of its people and their everyday lives.
Following the controversy, TVE issued an apology. The network’s general secretary, Alfonso María Morales Fernández, sent a letter to the Mancha Real town council explaining that live narration can occasionally yield references that are regrettable. He acknowledged the commentator’s error in placing excessive emphasis on the 1991 events, and noted that the commentary failed to contextualize the team’s passage through the municipality within a wider and more constructive narrative.
According to the statement, the broadcaster recognizes the misstep and undertook to correct it. The official note clarifies that the broadcast of the 2022 Vuelta a España had concluded, and that the commentator is currently offering a public apology through TVE channels. The message also assures residents that their municipality will not be treated in a similar way again in future coverage. This response reflects a broader commitment to responsible reporting and to presenting communities with fairness and nuance in sports programming. [Source: Televisión Española]