Int Football - Racism forces Spain-England move

Eurosport - Mon, 13 Oct 15:03:00 2008

England's friendly against Spain is set to be moved from its scheduled venue of Madrid next year over fears that racism could again become the overriding feature of the match.

2008 England Jermain Defoe Emile Heskey Shaun Wright-Phillips - 0

The last time England played Spain in Madrid, in 2004, sections of the crowd at the Bernabeu stadium rained racist chants down on some of England's players.

Shaun Wright-Phillips was abused - along with Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Jermain Defoe and Jermaine Jenas. The Spanish Federation were eventually fined 56,000 euros.

And with England striker Emile Heskey a recent victim of racist monkey chants from Croatia fans during their recent World Cup qualifier, the FA are keen to avoid having to play in the Spanish capital.

Although an official agreement is yet to be reached between the FA and their Spanish counterparts, the fixture is expected to be played on Wednesday, February 11, the only remaining FIFA international date still to be filled.

"This fixture is one of the friendly games that Fabio Capello requested to play. But as yet, a venue is still to be confirmed and the contract still to be signed," said FA director of communications Adrian Bevington.

"However, from the outset, the FA, with Fabio, were clear we would not play the fixture in Madrid due to the incidents of racial abuse we faced last time.

"Fabio is totally supportive of this fixture."

With Madrid ruled out, Seville and Valencia would appear the most likely alternatives.

Spain do not have a national stadium and play in a large number of cities. Their last 10 home games have taken place in Albacete, Murcia, Santander, Huelva, Elche, Malaga, Las Palmas, Madrid, Oviedo and Mallorca.

They have not played in Barcelona since 2004.

Rather than see the problem simply move from one city to another, the FA have vowed to work closely with the Spanish Federation on a number of anti-racism measures before the proposed fixture, which both bodies are expected to support.

Capello, the former coach of Real Madrid, regards Spain as the best international side in Europe at the moment, and worthy winners of Euro 2008.

With Liverpool's Fernando Torres spearheading their attack and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas also in the Spain squad, there is significant Premier League interest.

Spain are currently captained by Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas and beat Estonia 3-0 on Saturday in their latest World Cup qualifier.

AFP

Comment 33 - 52 of 52

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  1. Should off played in England Spain all ways gets away­ with it .........SCUM

    From billiebdj, on Tue 23 Dec 7:59PM

  2. europeans are turds i am english not european the eu­ can take a run and jump of the pier head @#$% europeans­ i hate them

    From lollo s, on Thu 23 Oct 9:48PM

  3. I think the british FA is simply being childish by­ saying england will not play in one of the best­ stadiums in the world cause of an incident that occured­ 4 years ago and involved a handful of fans. they´re­ only provoking pointless aguements from self ritious­ brits. The greatest problem in football is holiganism­ and the english far ahead with a great margin when it­ comes to this. Imagine every country in europe boycots­ playing matches on english soil (since almost every­ stadium in england has had it problems in the past) I­ don´t think the u self ritious priks will have much to­ say. I´m black and i lived in london for a good 6­ years, we have great folks and racist priks. I live in­ the south of spain now and its the same. I wonder wat­ you´re all ranting about

    From Charles, on Tue 14 Oct 11:02AM

  4. Hey guy, I think we can choose to play Italy instead,­ when was the last time we've played I Italy?

    From CHI PHEO Jr. K, on Tue 14 Oct 10:00AM

  5. hey

    From efosa, on Tue 14 Oct 7:55AM

  6. here is one solution, point them out on the big screen­ at the game, let people see their faces, then...kick­ them out of the game for good. gather them up to 1 cell­ and let them chant as much as they want in jail.

    From brandon78le, on Tue 14 Oct 7:30AM

  7. My god, wonder If those racist one day become a leader­ of the country they're live in...scary.WW3

    From brandon78le, on Tue 14 Oct 7:25AM

  8. I Know the reasons. Cause those racist didn't come­ for a football games, Them come to get their frustrated­ out to the players who are look different, make so much­ money then them.

    From brandon78le, on Tue 14 Oct 7:16AM

  9. Good point June.

    From CHI PHEO Jr. K, on Tue 14 Oct 7:11AM

  10. Ban them for life

    From CHI PHEO Jr. K, on Tue 14 Oct 7:09AM

  11. This is not a football issue, this is a society issue.­ The fact that people react this way towards blacks is­ unacceptable and totally ignorant. Those people in­ Europe that have these racist ways have to understand­ that just because someone looks different from you, it­ doesn't make them inferior to you. This is a­ serious global problem that needs to be fixed because­ by hating another race of people you might be missing­ out on something great. PLEASE STOP RACISM IN FOOTBALL­ AND SOCIETY!!

    From june, on Tue 14 Oct 4:47AM

  12. I'm not generalizing that Spanish are­ "racist" but take the manager of Liverpool­ Rafael Benetez, how many "blacks" play in the­ starting 11, compared with all the top EPL teams:­ Arsenal, Man U, and Chelsea. I rest my case.

    From starman_123, on Tue 14 Oct 3:13AM

  13. Its not just spain most of europe remain to be openly­ racist becauce most of europe are asxholes just like­ america was like 50 years ago there way behind times­ ignats

    From Danieli Pier C, on Mon 13 Oct 10:30PM

  14. all those who write stupid things about blacks are ­ blazing hell fools man...why do u have 2 mess wid de­ blacks man...u all fools dat talk about blacks the­ wrong way are weemps

    From najeeb, on Mon 13 Oct 8:33PM

  15. That they are shopping around for a 'safe'­ venue shows how pathetic the fight against racism in­ football is. For one FIFA or UEFA have not walked their­ talk. I think the black players should start sitting­ out such games. A strong statement needs to be made and­ if everyone is sidestepping the issue, the victims have­ to take up their fight. You say that's what the­ racists want? fine let them have their wish - they­ should just be careful what they wish for.

    From Kenneth O, on Mon 13 Oct 7:16PM

  16. If Borats racist, then i take it every disdash ( Arab­ dress ) wearing man city fan is a racist as well!

    From waelwatfa, on Mon 13 Oct 6:55PM

  17. Spain has a brother in their team too & he seems to­ get along wt his team mates. I'm black & I­ don't Spanish people are racist, so grow up some of­ you racist wannabe....like Bushy said multiculturalism,­ hello. One love to the lovers of football all over the­ world!!

    From Skippo, on Mon 13 Oct 6:33PM

  18. I think it's quite unfair to say that Spain is a­ racist country, only because few of them have a racist­ behaviour. I'm from Spain and I don't think all­ English are hooligans. Please, Be logical. Football is­ a way to join cultures and countries, not to separate­ them.
    I don't mind where the match is going to be­ played, I only hope to see a great match between two­ fantastic teams.

    From Roberto, on Mon 13 Oct 6:22PM

  19. Unless these games are played behind closed doors, then­ the fans will never change.
    Fining clubs 56.000 euros­ is pathetic, how exactly is that punishing these­ racists.

    From rewandjew, on Mon 13 Oct 6:22PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

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    From , on Mon 13 Oct 6:12PM
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