Arabic version: توخيل يطلع إنجلترا على بروتوكول مكافحة العنصرية

According to BBC News, England manager Thomas Tuchel will remind his players of Uefa’s anti-racism procedures before Sunday’s Nations League match against Spain in Madrid. The game will be England’s first in the Spanish capital since the 2004 fixture at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu, which was overshadowed by racist chanting aimed at England players.

Sunday’s match will be played at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano. Tuchel said England had held a similar discussion before the Serbia match in Belgrade in September 2025. “There is a protocol in place,” he said, adding that the team may take five minutes to inform players about it because of the precedent in Madrid.

Uefa’s three-step procedure for discrimination inside stadiums allows referees to halt matches and, if behaviour continues, abandon them. First, officials stop play and request a public-address announcement. If discrimination persists, the match can be paused for five to 10 minutes and players taken from the field. Continued issues after that second stoppage can lead to abandonment.

“It’s important that the players know about the protocol,” Tuchel said. “And then, yeah, we will give our answers if stuff like this happens. Best answers are on the pitch.” The Spanish federation was fined last month and ordered to stage its next friendly with a partial stadium closure after supporters sang “Islamophobic and xenophobic” chants about Muslims during a match against Egypt.

England are three points behind group leaders Spain. A victory would secure top spot in their Nations League group and a more favourable quarter-final draw. Spain, the world champions, are unbeaten in 43 matches, including a 3-2 win at Wembley in September. Tuchel said England must attack, make the contest physical and impose their strength, adding that his side are ready to win on Sunday.