Crossword Genius

People who judge severely criticise Spanish article (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

panel

'people who judge' is the definition.
(as in a judging panel)

'severely criticise spanish article' is the wordplay.
'severely criticise' becomes 'pan' (pan can mean to criticise heavily).
'spanish article' becomes 'el'.
'pan'+'el'='PANEL'

(Other definitions for panel that I've seen before include "Plane (anag.)" , "Board for instruments" , "a selection of which is put in box" , "Group selected to judge a competition" , "regularly beaten by bodywork experts?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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