Spain not racist, says coach De la Fuente ahead of England clash

Spain's head coach Luis de la Fuente has refuted allegations of racism within Spanish football, asserting that the nation is not racist ahead of the UEFA Nations League match against England in Madrid. De la Fuente's remarks came in response to England manager Thomas Tuchel's decision to remind his players about UEFA's anti-racism protocol prior to the Group A3 fixture.

England's visit to Madrid is their first since a contentious 2004 encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu, which was marred by racist chants directed at their players.

De la Fuente's comments follow previous incidents of racism in Spanish football, including abuse against Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and three Valencia supporters sentenced to eight months in prison for racially abusing Vinicius during a La Liga match in 2024. England's Declan Rice also condemned racism in football, emphasizing that the problem should have no place in the modern game.

De la Fuente's stance comes amid ongoing efforts to tackle racism in football, with England midfielder Declan Rice also condemning the issue, recalling his own experiences with racist abuse in Montenegro and Bulgaria. Both coaches expressed optimism about their respective teams' abilities, but emphasized that neither could simply adopt the other's playing philosophy. De la Fuente also praised Spain's recent achievements, including their Euro 2024 victory over England, while acknowledging the growing pressure on his side.