The Spanish Football Association appears set to go ahead and play a friendly match against England in March at the Bernabeu, the home of Real Madrid.

 

Four years ago England players Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Jermain Defoe and Jermaine Jenas were abused by home supporters which led to world governing body FIFA imposing a £45,000 fine on the Spanish federation.

 

England' s Football Association have insisted they will not agree to play Spain in Madrid this time, although a spokesman for the Spanish federation - RFEF - stressed it would be they who make the final decision on where to put on the possible March game.

 

RFEF spokesman Jorge Carretero said: "We are aware of their worry.

 

"The FA were clear that they wouldn't play the game in Madrid because of the racist attacks that they were subject to in 2004.

 

"But the fans that go to the Bernabeu are fantastic as they are in the whole of Spain.

 

"We're not thinking about an alternative location because at the moment there is no contract that is signed.

 

"If we reach an agreement then the game will be played where the Spanish federation thinks is best."

 

A spokesman for Madrid 2016 told insidethegames: “The venue is a matter for the football authorities but as far as the Madrid 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid is concerned, we are completely committed to equality in all sport at every level in every country. 

 

"We condemn racist behaviour in any country. Madrid is a multi-racial city and a welcoming city for people of every nation. 

 

"Equality in sport is not just part of our bid it is the core theme: The Human Touch -  meaning the Games for everyone’’

 

In another incident, European football's governing body UEFA has today imposed a two-match home ban on Atletico Madird after trouble at their last Champions League game versus Marseille.

 

It means their match next Wednesday against Premiership club Liverpool must be played 200 miles from Madrid.

 

The UEFA ban follows the treatment of Marseille fans during and after Atletico's 2-1 win a fortnight ago.

 

Monkey chants were aimed at the French club's players, while the Marseille team bus was attacked after the match.

 

The Spanish club's coach Javier Aguirre has been punished for abusing a Marseille player.

 

He has been banned from the sidelines, the tunnel, and the dressing room, and is forbidden from communicating with his team, during the matches against Liverpool on October 22 and at Anfield on November 4.

 

A spokesman for Madrid 2016 told insidethegames that the incidents invovling Atletico Madrid had nothing to do with the Olympics.

 

He said: "It's not really relevant to the Olympic Games." 

 

Madrid's bid was caught up in a racism row during the Olympics in Beijing when the Spanish Baskebtall Federation published a good luck advert in a national newspaper for their men's team in which they stand pulling at the sides of their eyes in a "slit-eyed" gesture.

 

The picture of the world champions caused huge offence in China and across the Far East and undermined Madrid's claims that racism in Spanish sport is being eradicated.

 

Earlier this year British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton was the victim of racist abuse while practicing in Barcelona.

 

There was also outrage when Spanish national football coach Luis Aragones made abusive racist comments about French and then Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

 

The growing row over racism could also affect Spain's proposed joint bid with Portugal to host the 2018 World Cup, an event England are also bidding for.