Racist chanting raises FA concerns
The Football Association was making representations to its Spanish counterpart before tonight’s England friendly to ensure that there is no repeat of the racist abuse aimed at U21 players.
U21 strikers Carlton Cole and Darren Bent were subjected to racist chants during the first-half of last night’s 1-0 defeat, with Glen Johnson later receiving the same treatment.
The actions of the Spanish fans could not have been more ill-timed after the controversy which has surrounded senior Spain coach Luis Aragones since his alleged racist remarks about Thierry Henry.
The FA is therefore planning to write to UEFA and FIFA to detail its concerns following the U21 game.
FA chairman Geoff Thompson was, meanwhile, planning to speak to his Spanish counterpart ahead of tonight’s senior friendly in Madrid to stress his concern that there is no repeat in the Bernabeu.
FA head of media Adrian Bevington revealed: “Geoff Thompson will be speaking to his counterpart in the Spanish FA to make him aware before tonight’s match of our concerns from last night’s U21 game.
“We will also be writing to both UEFA and FIFA to make them aware of the jeering that took place during the U21 game. We would, of course, hope that this does not occur again this evening.”
England's U21 coach Peter Taylor was concerned to hear his players racially abused during the game, in which Johnson was sent off.
“I thought I heard something in the first half when Carlton Cole was running through towards the Spanish goal. I was disappointed with that but I’ll let the FA deal with it,” revealed Taylor.
A disciplinary charge could yet be brought against the Spanish FA, with FIFA revealing that any FA complaints would be “set against the background of FIFA’s code of conduct“.
England’s senior players had pointedly worn anti-racism t-shirts during their training session in the Bernabeu yesterday in the wake of Aragones’ comments about Henry last month.
The Spain coach nevertheless claimed his “conscience was clear” as he did little to end the row by then launching into an apparent attack on the British Empire’s record in Africa.
He told English reporters: “I am not a racist, but you lot will write what you want. You are like wolves after the deer.
“I have a lot of black friends who have explained to me that the English were after them in the colonies.”
Aragones has not made a personal apology to Henry, although the Spanish Football Federation has apologised formally to Arsenal.
The Spanish coach added: “I can’t say if it’s a reply to what I could have said or not but, in my opinion, racism is a question of conscience and I have my conscience clear.
“A lot of black people have also said that. I am a citizen of the world. My job has made me adapt to every city or area where I have lived.
“I have a lot of black friends but I don’t understand why people are still talking about the issue.
“I have apologised publicly. It has been taken out of context to motivate a player and I am sure Henry knows that.“.
