Reina cops flak over Spanish advert

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has been caught up in a race row following complaints that a Spanish TV commercial featuring the player is racist and homophobic.

British campaign group Operation Black Vote complained to Spanish insurance firm Groupama Seguros that one advert from a series featuring Reina “depicts black people in a jungle scenario as stupid, backward, animalistic homosexuals.”

The advert plays on Reina’s surname, which means ’queen’, and shows the Spain international being introduced to a tribal chief who chooses him as his partner.

OBV say the advert has been pulled from Spanish TV since their complaint.

Groupama, however, have also said they do not believe it “contains either offensive nor any discriminatory content”, according to the campaigners.

OBV director Simon Woolley said: “I’m shocked on so many levels.

“Firstly, how would the Spanish feel if the English stereotyped Spanish people as backward, stupid, and animalistic homosexuals?

“Secondly, what does this say about Pepe Reina?

“The Liverpool goalkeeper has lived and worked in the UK for nearly a decade, does he think it’s okay characterise black people this way?

“Does he think his black team-mates will laugh at his joke?”

Reina, 29, joined Liverpool from Villarreal in 2005 and is one of their most important players.

Liverpool have already been involved in one race storm this season after striker Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches for abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.