Spar Girona Head Coach Roberto Íñiguez Condemned by Journalists’ Association Following Rant
The Girona branch of the Journalists’ Association of Catalonia formally condemned verbal insults directed at reporters by Spar Girona head coach Roberto Íñiguez during a pre-match press conference ahead of an Eurocup fixture against German side Keltern, diaridegirona.cat reported.
Association Criticizes Coach for Insulting Journalists
In an official statement titled “Insults against journalists are unacceptable,” the association criticized the coach’s outburst while asserting that public figures must accept scrutiny as part of their professional responsibilities. The governing body stated that freedom of expression is a fundamental right that does not justify verbal attacks or threats against media professionals.
“Tension and nervousness cannot be an excuse for losing one’s composure, and knowing how to accept criticism is part of the public responsibility of anyone holding a position like this,” the association’s statement read.
La Junta de la Demarcació de Girona del Col·legi ha fet un comunicat recordant que els insults als periodistes són intolerables, després que l'entrenador de l'@unigirona els enviés "a la merda" en la roda de premsa d'ahir.👉https://t.co/S98VZQs5Jw#CPCGirona
The Press Conference Outburst
The disciplinary response stems from a contentious media appearance where Íñiguez addressed critics questioning Spar Girona’s recent performances following a string of losses. Defending the commitment of his roster, the coach directed a direct expletive toward the media corps present in the room.
“Go to hell, all of you, I’m saying it to your faces,” Íñiguez told the reporters, adding that he would remember the criticism when the team eventually secured results. “Now is when people are needed and it’s very clear who is who. Afterward you’ll come along and I’ll remind you of things.”
Defense of Spar Girona Players
During the press conference, the coach compared the current roster with the previous season’s squad that reached the Euroleague top 4, asking whether the current situation looked like the same reality. Pointing to roster changes, he noted that last year the team had Holm, Joyce, Quevedo, Amihere, and Coulibaly, whereas in a recent match they played with Camilión, Ainhoa, Conner, Guerrero, and Senyürek.
Upcoming Eurocup Fixture
Spar Girona faces its upcoming Eurocup match against Keltern under heightened media scrutiny following the fallout from the press conference.
