Tuchel plays down racism fears, De la Fuente says none exists

England manager Thomas Tuchel downplayed concerns over racist abuse during Sunday's Nations League match against Spain in Madrid. The top-seeded teams are competing for the group's top spot, with the fixture marking Tuchel's return to the Spanish capital after a 2004 friendly where Black England players faced racist abuse. England midfielder Declan Rice said his team knew the appropriate response to any racist incidents.

Rice added that they would come off the pitch if such an event occurred. England midfielder Declan Rice said that he was not anticipating any incidents, describing Spain's capital as a beautiful city with a great stadium. The issue resurfaced following Spain's $20,000 fine for anti-Muslim chants during a game against Egypt in Barcelona in March.

Spain must play their next home friendly with a reduced-capacity crowd. De la Fuente firmly denied any racism in Spain, stating that there is "no racism in Spain" and that "just as in England, there is no racism in Spain. None of us are racist." Tuchel criticized Spanish media for misrepresenting his stance on the issue.