"No Racism in Spain": De la Fuente Makes Stance Clear Before Madrid Clash

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has rejected any suggestion of racism in his country, saying plainly that there is no racism in Spain. His comments came in the build-up to a Nations League meeting with England in Madrid on Sunday.

England manager Thomas Tuchel struck a similar note. He said he does not believe the issue will be a factor when the two sides meet, and he appeared keen to keep the focus on the football rather than on off-pitch debate.

Any talk of discrimination ahead of a high-profile fixture tends to attract attention, so both managers' remarks are being read as an effort to close the subject before kick-off. The reported comments are brief, so the fuller context will become clearer from later press conferences and from how the match itself unfolds.