Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has dismissed concerns over racism in Spanish football, insisting that the country is not racist ahead of Sunday\u2019s UEFA Nations League encounter with England in Madrid.\n<\/p>\n
De la Fuente made the remarks after being asked about England manager Thomas Tuchel\u2019s decision to remind his players of UEFA\u2019s anti-racism protocol before the Group A3 fixture.\n<\/p>\n
England\u2019s visit to Madrid will be their first since the controversial 2004 encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu, which was overshadowed by racist chants directed at their players.\n<\/p>\n
As reported by BBC Sport on Saturday, responding to whether Tuchel\u2019s comments suggested that more needed to be done to tackle racism in Spain, De la Fuente said: \u201cWhat I\u2019d tell you, and you can tell Thomas, is that in Spain, there\u2019s no racism.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust like that, crystal clear. Just like in England, there\u2019s no racism in Spain. We aren\u2019t racist, any of us.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
However, his comments come amid previous incidents of racism in Spanish football, including the abuse directed at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior.\n<\/p>\n
Last month, the Spanish Football Federation was fined and ordered to partially close a stadium after supporters directed Islamophobic and xenophobic chants towards Muslims during an international friendly against Egypt in Barcelona.<\/p>\n
In 2024, three Valencia supporters were also sentenced to eight months in prison for racially abusing Vinicius during a La Liga match.<\/p>\n
Tuchel had earlier explained that he would remind his players about UEFA\u2019s three-step anti-racism protocol, which allows referees to stop matches, temporarily remove players from the pitch and abandon games if discriminatory behaviour continues.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe we take our five minutes to inform the players about the protocol if there is a precedent [in Madrid]. And then, yeah, we will give our answers if stuff like this happens. Best answers are on the pitch,\u201d the England manager said.\n<\/p>\n
However, Tuchel later clarified that he did not expect any racist incidents during the encounter.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI never talk about racism in Spain. I answered politely a question about what happens, I never expect racism,\u201d he explained.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cBut my trust is that we have a friendly atmosphere, that we have an atmosphere who is clearly in favour of the Spanish team, and that football does what it does best: brings people together and not divide people.\u201d <\/p>\n
England midfielder Declan Rice also condemned racism in football, insisting that the problem should have no place in the modern game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past, I\u2019ve experienced that in Montenegro and Bulgaria and there was a protocol in place that we followed \u2013 we came off the pitch. We know exactly where we are as a group on that,\u201d Rice said.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThe times we are in now, 2026, there should never be racism in football. It\u2019s shocking we still have it in the game today.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to think about if one of our players or their players is racially abused because that would be a horrible mark on football.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, De la Fuente believes Spain and England are among the leading sides in world football but warned that neither team could simply adopt the other\u2019s playing philosophy.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI prefer the Spanish model. It\u2019s very recognisable, the players are perfectly adapted,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThe English model is very good, but you have to have that type of player. Neither England can play like Spain, nor Spain like England.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
The Spanish coach also praised his team\u2019s recent achievements, including their Euro 2024 triumph over England, while acknowledging the growing pressure on his side.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s our best moment in a long time,\u201d he added. \u201cThey are all much more aggressive to beat us now than in other times.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
De la Fuente also expressed his surprise at the relatively low transfer fees commanded by Spanish players compared with their English counterparts.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cSpanish footballers surprise me that, compared to what is paid in England, they are very cheap. I see them as better, in my opinion. Everyone in their market can set the prices,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
On the fitness of Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, the Spain manager remained cautious about whether the forward would start, although he confirmed that the teenager would be fit enough to feature if selected.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will see if he is a starter, but if he comes out, it\u2019s because he\u2019s fit to play,\u201d De la Fuente said.\n <\/p>\n
Source: <\/p>\n
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