SPANISH FURY OVER NATIONAL ANTHEM GAFFE

[AussieMark]

Spanish Fury Over National Anthem Gaffe

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Spain's sports minister ordered the country's Davis Cup team not to start their final against Australia Friday until an apology had been issued after the wrong anthem was played at the opening ceremony.

Juan Antonio Gomez Angulo, who was watching from the stands, left the stadium in protest when an old republican anthem was played by a lone trumpeter.

He returned after an Australian apology and the tennis began.

"This reparation was done but the Spanish delegation is not totally satisfied and we have indicated to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) that prior to the commencement of the doubles match (on Saturday) the correct anthem be played," he told a news conference.

"Furthermore, I will be asking the Spanish ambassador to approach the Australian government to inquire as to how this intolerable offence could happen at the opening ceremony of an event as important as the Davis Cup.

"We are demanding a formal apology through the Spanish embassy in Australia and an explanation by the Australian government so that at a sports level the root of the problem can be corrected for this offence to the Spanish nation."

The anthem played was penned in the early 19th century by liberals opposed to the absolutist monarchy of the time.

It was used by republicans during various periods of Spanish history and became the official anthem in 1822 for a short time.

Later it became the anthem of the Second Republic, the regime prior to the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s, but was replaced by the victorious General Franco.

On the court, the day ended with the tie level at 1-1 but Angulo said they players had been upset over the anthem blunder.

"Naturally this upset them (and) ... the players were resolved not to continue playing if the reparation was not done.

"Apologies have been accepted in the first instance so as not to affect the process of the competition."
Tennis Australia, organizing the final on behalf of the ITF, said they had apologized for the error and would play the correct anthem Saturday when the Spanish flag was raised.

"It is unfortunate the outstanding opening ceremony was marred by this regrettable occurrence and, as a mark of respect, Tennis Australia will be playing the Spanish and Australian anthems before play tomorrow and again Sunday," Tennis Australian president Geoff Pollard said in the statement.

The error had occurred because a CD of national anthems supplied to the performer was incorrect.