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England will not return to Bernabeu

13/10/2008

England will not play in the Bernabeu in next year's scheduled friendly with Spain following the racist abuse the overshadowed the last time the two sides met in Madrid, the Football Association has admitted.

A friendly match between the two sides in the Madrid stadium four years ago saw several England players suffer from racial abuse from the home supporters.

England are expected to play Spain – the European champions and top-ranked team in the world – on February 11th next year, with Seville or Valencia the most likely venue.

"We are currently in discussions with the Spanish Federation with a view to playing the European Champions in Spain in February," said FA director of communications Adrian Bevington.

"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.

"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."

In the 2004 fixture, won 1-0 by Spain, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Jermain Defoe and Jermaine Jenas were all singled out for racist abuse by Spain fans.

The affair saw the home side handed a £45,000 fine.

In last month's World Cup qualifying defeat of Croatia similar abuse was meted out to Emile Heskey, with Fifa handing England's group six rivals a £14,920 penalty.