De la Fuente denies racism in Spain before England tie

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has told Thomas Tuchel that "there is no racism in Spain" ahead of Sunday's Nations League meeting between the two countries at the Metropolitano in Madrid. The England boss, who said he would remind his players of the anti-racism protocol before the game, has also insisted he does not believe racism will be an issue on the night.

The story

De la Fuente was direct in his message to his England counterpart, telling Tuchel "we're not racists, none of us" as the two sides prepared to meet in the Spanish capital. The Spain coach's remarks came after Tuchel confirmed he would speak to his squad about the anti-racism protocol before kick-off.

Tuchel, for his part, hit out at the media for what he described as "creating confusion" around the fixture, and reiterated that he does not expect racism to be a problem on Sunday. The England manager's position is that the reminder to his players is a routine measure rather than a response to any specific threat.

The fixture carries historical weight: it will be the first time the countries have played each other in Madrid since some of England's black players were subjected to racist abuse at the Santiago Bernabéu in 2004. England have returned to Spain three times since then without incident, according to reports in the English press.

Why it matters

The pre-match focus on protocol has shifted attention away from the football, with both coaches asked about the subject rather than the tactical contest at the Metropolitano. For Tuchel, the priority is ensuring his players are fully briefed and comfortable, while De la Fuente is keen to defend the reputation of Spanish football and its supporters.

The Nations League meeting is a significant test for both sides, and the tone set before kick-off will shape the narrative around the game. A clean, incident-free evening in Madrid would go some way to answering the questions raised in the build-up, while any repeat of the 2004 scenes would dominate the fallout.

What's next

Spain and England meet at the Metropolitano on Sunday night in the Nations League, with both coaches having now had their say on the matter. The match itself, and the conduct of the crowd, will be watched closely by both federations and by the governing body.

FAQ

What did Luis de la Fuente say about racism in Spain?

The Spain manager said "there is no racism in Spain" and told Thomas Tuchel "we're not racists, none of us" ahead of the Nations League meeting in Madrid.

Why is the fixture significant?

It is the first time England have played Spain in Madrid since some of England's black players were subjected to racist abuse at the Santiago Bernabéu in 2004. England have returned to Spain three times since without incident.