Spain coach denies racism exists before England match

Coach dismisses racism claims

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente stated clearly that racism does not exist in his country. He told England boss Thomas Tuchel the situation is exactly the same as in England. De la Fuente insisted none of the Spanish players or staff are racists. This response comes after Tuchel admitted he would remind his squad about anti-racism protocols before the game.

History and recent incidents

The upcoming match in Madrid marks the first time England has visited since 2004 racist chanting occurred at the Bernabeu. Although England returned to Spain three times without incident since then, Tuchel faced questions about returning to the capital. The Spanish Football Federation was fined last month after supporters directed Islamophobic chants during a match against Egypt in Barcelona. Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has been a vocal campaigner against racism after facing abuse from Valencia fans.

Tuchel defends his comments

Thomas Tuchel expressed irritation with media reports suggesting he manufactured a row about potential incidents. He stated he never talked about racism in Spain but answered politely regarding what happens if issues arise. Tuchel noted that football brings people together rather than dividing them. De la Fuente also praised the English model while insisting price and value must not be confused.