PRESUMABLY The National’s front page on Saturday was supposed to be amusing rather than crass, puerile and parochial. Presumably the argument defending its use will be that it was meant to be treated as light-hearted rather than offensive, discriminatory and infantile.

Presumably The National still wishes to be regarded as a serious newspaper that supports an independent Scotland. If so, then an apology to its readers and the wider Scottish public must be forthcoming imminently or it will lose any genuine credibility that it can underpin an independence movement that is inclusive, mature and can promote serious values.

READ MORE: A statement on The National's Euros final front page

This front page represents the banal, unsophisticated and prejudiced face of Scottish nationalism at a time when reflection on our principles and methodology should be the order of the day following our chastening participation in the General Election. Instead we are presented with the time-honoured Scottish inferiority complex wherein we pathetically urge ill-fortune on England regardless of the opposition or circumstances.

This choice was a major error of judgement and smacks of fatuous adolescence. An editorial evaluation of The National’s raison d’etre must surely be a priority for the future.

Owen Kelly
Stirling

I AM very loyal to The National and have been from the start. I’ve challenged (the many) outlets that will not stock it because they say no-one buys it and I will continue to do so. Some have changed their minds, most haven’t.

Saturday’s headline really shocked me. This is jingoism the likes of which I’ve only seen in dreadful titles as the Mail and Sun. It plays into the hands to all those who argue that we desire self-government because we’re all anti-English. The message slates the behaviour of English people in Spain forgetting that such behaviours are perhaps not totally unique to them. The image of the man on the football is in very bad taste.

To see this under a banner stating the newspaper’s allegiance to independence is embarrassing. I cringed like never before. We and you are better than that. There is a conversation on Facebook. I chose to write to you rather than join in.

Noirin Blackie
Haddington

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I AM an ardent independence supporter and a regular reader of The National. I was horrified by your racist and provocative front page. Your depiction of a supposed English football fan is outrageous. It does not encourage any kind of fair and safe attitudes. The fact that I supported Spain does not mean that I am anti-English!

Les Anderson
South Ayrshire

I WAS more than saddened to see Saturday’s front page of The National. As an indy supporter, I believe that our movement for Scottish self-determination does not, nor should it, support this kind of jingoism.

Peter Glissov
Edinburgh

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I JUST wanted to say that Saturday’s headline in your paper was so unacceptable. I am a supporter of independence and I would like to know how you think this type of jingoism will help persuade others that we are reasonable, open-minded people who could be trusted to run the country.

I believe you need to go back to the drawing board and help the people of Scotland to show others we are capable of greatness in our ability to accept everyone who wants to live here and contribute instead of intentionally stirring up hate. What a poor example to our young people.

Jeanette Roscoe
via email

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LET me state quite clearly and unambiguously that I am NOT anti-English, but I am most certainly anti-English press and media. I refer to, in particular, to the English press and media’s excessive coverage of the English football team’s progress through the Euros.

I tuned in to the BBC Breakfast programme and Good Morning Britain in the hope of getting the latest worldwide news. Not a chance! I had to listen to ranting breakfast presenters on the verge of having a conniption using every superlative possible in describing the England football team reaching the final in frequent and lengthy reports. The same English press and media that had been excoriating in their criticism of England’s underwhelming performances in several matches. They vented their frustrated bile, targeting Gareth Southgate. Once England reached the final, the English press and media were praising Southgate as a tactical genius – how fickle was that!

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Newswatch presenter Samira Ahmed even had some English viewers complaining about the excessive coverage of the English football team’s progression!

There is a saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” I’ve always been of the opinion that the huge weight of expectation drummed up by the English press and media has a detrimental effect on the English football team in tournament football. Indeed it explains why there have been a number of poor performances by England against so-called lesser teams.

Then there is the three lions anthem “Football’s coming home” which posits that football originated in England. But is that spurious claim historically correct? An article in The Telegraph states, “Scotland taught England how to play football, a BBC documentary claims. Not all experts are convinced by Bringing Football Home’s version of sporting history, however, with one branding it absurd.”

I’m left with the question, what is it about football that exercises the English press and media like no other sport?

Sandy Gordon
Edinburgh