Tottenham 'astonished' after Spanish newspaper Marca claim club's 'Jewish origins' are reason rival fans dislike them ahead of Champions League meeting with Real Madrid

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Spanish sports newspaper Marca has caused outrage by claiming Tottenham's 'Jewish origins' are the reason they are disliked by other clubs.

The paper published a full-page article on the origins and history of the London club in their Monday edition ahead of their Champions League group stage meeting with Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

The sub-headline to the piece, written under the byline of Enrique Ortega, reads: 'Their Jewish origins have made them into a club disliked by rival fans.'

The full-page article on the history of Tottenham in Monday's edition of Marca that claims the club are disliked by rivals because of their 'Jewish origins'

Tottenham striker Harry Kane was on the front page ahead of their meeting with Real Madrid

Marca have since apologised for the piece, claiming the controversy it has generated is because of a mis-translation of the word 'hatred' and insisting they never intended to damage the image of Tottenham or 'serve as a mouth-piece for racist minorities'.

The controversial article begins by describing the foundation of the club in the late 19th century, with Ortego writing: 'Formed by young people and businessmen from the area of Jewish origins, they have always had to carry the weight of being the club "par excellence" of the Hebrew community.'

It continues: 'Throughout their history, they have been frowned upon by the followers of other London clubs, mainly by their big enemy Arsenal but also by the followers of West Ham and Chelsea and other capital clubs of a lesser pedigree, spreading the animosity to the rest of the country, where it is normal to hear the deafening chant "stand up if you hate Tottenham" when they take to the field. 

'Since its beginnings the club has had an undeniable connection with the Jewish community represented in directors, coaches and players. And the current owner and president, Joe Lewis and Daniel Levy, are Jewish.

Tottenham celebrate their winning goal, scored by Christian Eriksen, against Bournemouth

Real Madrid players train ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League match at the Bernabeu

'But those who know the club up close say that 90 per cent of Spurs fans have never set foot inside a synagogue in their lives.

'Despite the feeling of being hated they have assimilated Jewish symbols into the stands, especially at their old White Hart Lane stadium where the flags of the Star of David fluttered. They have even defined themselves, in their songs, as "yids", the word that their rivals use in derogatory way to describe them.' 

The final section of the piece describes how the fact Spurs had Argentine players Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricardo Villa in their side during the 1982 Falklands Conflict only made them more hated by other clubs.

Ortego writes: 'What could not have been foreseen is that these two signings, in time, because of the military conflict with Argentina, would see the club seen even more as the enemy and repudiated in all of the stadiums in the country.

Tottenham will play defending European champions Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Tuesday

Both Tottenham and Real have taken the maximum six points from their opening two games

'Ardiles and Villa were whistled and insulted every time they touched the ball and the reaction of White Hart Lane was to start to chant: "Argentina, Argentina". One more reason to be hated.'

The article caused outrage on social media and Spurs have condemned the sentiments in it.

A Tottenham statement in response read: 'We are astonished that a publication such as Marca, which presents itself as an alleged source of professional journalism, has seen fit to publish such an article which is blatantly wrong and wholly distasteful.'

In a statement published later on Monday, Marca journalist Ortego stated 'regret' over the way the article had been viewed, blaming a mistranslation of the word 'odiado' - meaning 'hated'.

Kane and his Tottenham team-mates headed for Madrid on Monday ahead of their game

It read: 'The article has generated controversy in England for an erroneous interpretation of the word "hated", that is also employed in the text.

'This "hatred" that Tottenham suffer is very concentrated in the radical and racist groups that hide in the social mass of especially Chelsea and West Ham. Evidently these groups in no way represent English fans in general or English society.

'I regret the confusion that has been caused. The intention was not to damage the image of Tottenham, a club that we respect, value and admire – we have one of its players on our front page today.

'And we do not want to serve as a mouthpiece for these racist minorities who are not welcome in football, and who use any pretext possible to expand their hate messages, which we reject head-on.'