Censorship row hits Spanish TV

SPAIN'S national TV broadcaster sacked its sports director yesterday after the station censored jeering and whistling during the national anthem at the Copa del Rey football final between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona a day earlier.

Many spectators at Valencia's Mestalla stadium drowned the anthem with jeers and whistles, and the state channel cut to live reporters in Bilbao and Barcelona. It replayed the anthem at half time, with the jeering edited out.

The clubs are in two of Spain's more autonomous provinces. King Juan Carlos' arrival at the Mestalla was also greeted with jeers.