19/11/2004 00:00
TW
0

by RAY FLEMING
ALTHOUGH the fact passed almost unnoticed, Wednesday night's “friendly” game between Spain and England was supposed to celebrate Spain's 500th international fixture. What a party! And what a hangover, with government level complaints from Britain about the abuse of its black players by the Madrid crowd and further representations by the Football Association to Fifa and Uefa. In Spain, however, the general attitude yesterday seemed to be either that nothing untoward had happened or that if it had the fault was with the British players and/or the British press.

Let's speak frankly about this. The “monkey noises” made by substantial sections of the Madrid crowd, whenever one of England's black players touched the ball, were totally unacceptable, whatever reason may be given to justify or excuse them. Let's also be frank and say that the behaviour of some of England's senior players was below what is to be expected of them and that Wayne Rooney was a disgrace to his country in more ways than one; whether their actions were prompted by the crowd's chanting or their own shortcomings on the night is not the issue - they let England down. With very few exceptions racial abuse has disappeared from football grounds in Britain as a result of strenuous efforts by clubs and players. Why is it still present in Spain? One factor is the relatively few black players in the Spanish game.

At international level only one Spanish–born black player has had a place in the national side in the past ten years; he was Vincente Engonga, a midfielder for Real Mallorca, who at the time was the only black Spaniard among 480 squad players in the Spanish first division.

At the very least the Spanish authorities need to apologise for what happened on Wednesday night; at the same time Fifa should consider what conditions need to be placed on Spain's future participation in international games.