Spain coach says there is no racism in Spain ahead of England clash

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has said there is no racism in Spain, ahead of his side's Nations League meeting with England in Madrid on Sunday.

Asked whether a message from England manager Thomas Tuchel suggested work was still needed to tackle racism in Spain, De la Fuente pushed back. "Just like in England, there's no racism in Spain. We aren't racist, any of us," he said, according to BBC Sport.

Tuchel, speaking on Saturday, said he never talks about racism in Spain and never expects it. He also confirmed he will remind his players of UEFA's anti-racism protocol before kick-off. The Nations League is a competition between national teams across Europe, split into groups by strength. Sunday's match will decide which side finishes top of League A Group 3.

The match carries extra weight because of the history between the two sides. It will be England's first visit to the Spanish capital since a 2004 game at the Bernabeu, which was overshadowed by racist chanting aimed at England players.

Racism in Spanish football has been in the headlines this year. The Spanish Football Federation was fined last month and ordered to partially close a stadium after supporters directed Islamophobic and xenophobic chants at Muslims during a match against Egypt in Barcelona. In 2024, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr during a match.

UEFA, European football's governing body, has a three-step protocol for dealing with discriminatory behaviour in stadiums. Referees can stop a match. They can then take the players off the pitch for a short time. If the abuse continues, they can abandon the game altogether. Every team is expected to know these steps before they play.

The two teams also have a recent history on the biggest stage. Spain beat England 2-1 in the final of Euro 2024 in Berlin. This summer, Spain went one better and were crowned World Cup winners, while England finished third after losing to Argentina in the semi-finals.

For fans who are new to the game, the basics are simple. Sunday's match is about group points, but it is also about how the sport handles the crowd. A referee's decision to stop play, or the silence of a stadium, can matter as much as any goal. Both coaches will be asked about that before the whistle, and both have said they want the focus kept on football.

Kick-off is on Sunday in Madrid. Whatever happens on the pitch, the protocol Tuchel is reminding his players about will be in place in the stadium.