Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has sparked controversy by declaring that there is "no racism" in Spanish football, just days before his team faces England in Madrid. The remarks came in response to England manager Thomas Tuchel's plan to remind his players about Uefa's anti-racism protocols ahead of Sunday's Nations League clash.
De la Fuente's bold claim
Speaking at a pre-match news conference, De la Fuente was asked whether Tuchel's precaution indicated that Spain still had work to do in tackling racism. He replied: "What I'd tell you, and you can tell Thomas, is that in Spain, there's no racism. Just like that, crystal clear. Just like in England, there's no racism in Spain. We aren't racist, any of us."
The statement comes despite recent incidents. Last month, the Spanish Football Federation was fined and ordered to partially close a stadium after fans directed Islamophobic and xenophobic chants towards Muslims during a match against Egypt in Barcelona. In domestic football, Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr has been a prominent anti-racism campaigner after suffering repeated racist abuse, leading to prison sentences for three Valencia fans in 2024.
Tuchel's measured response
Tuchel had earlier confirmed he would inform his players about Uefa's three-step protocol, which allows referees to stop matches, temporarily remove players, and ultimately abandon games if discriminatory behaviour persists. He stressed that he did not expect any incidents but felt it was prudent given past history, including England's notorious 2004 encounter at the Bernabeu that was marred by racist chanting.
Responding to De la Fuente's comments, Tuchel said: "I never talk about racism in Spain. I answered politely a question about what happens, I never expect racism. I got asked, 'what will happen if and if and if?' And I said, 'if it happens, there's a protocol in place'. That's it. But my trust is that we have a friendly atmosphere, that we have an atmosphere who is clearly in favour of the Spanish team, and that football does what it does best: brings people together and not divide people."
Rice: Racism should not exist in football
England midfielder Declan Rice also weighed in, recalling past experiences of racism in Montenegro and Bulgaria where the team followed the protocol and left the pitch. "The times we are in now, 2026, there should never be racism in football. It's shocking we still have it in the game today," Rice said. "I don't want to think about if one of our players or their players is racially abused because that would be a horrible mark on football."
Focus on the match
On the pitch, De la Fuente believes both Spain and England are at the pinnacle of world football, though he rejected the idea that one team could simply copy the other's style. "I prefer the Spanish model. It's very recognisable, the players are perfectly adapted," he said. "The English model is very good, but you have to have that type of player. Neither England can play like Spain, nor Spain like England."
Spain, the reigning World Cup and Euro 2024 champions, have faced increasingly aggressive opposition as their success has raised expectations. De la Fuente added: "It's our best moment in a long time. They are all much more aggressive to beat us now than in other times."
He also defended the value of Spanish players, arguing they often outperform their transfer-market prices compared to those in the Premier League. "Spanish footballers surprise me that, compared to what is paid in England, they are very cheap. I see them as better, in my opinion. Everyone in their market can set the prices."
On the fitness of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, De la Fuente remained cautious about whether he would start or how long he could play. "We will see if he is a starter, but if he comes out, it's because he's fit to play," he said.
The match will determine who finishes top of League A Group 3 and serves as a rematch of the Euro 2024 final, which Spain won 2-1. It also provides an opportunity for England to show they have learned from their World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
