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Luis de la Fuente has raised eyebrows with his comments comparing getting called bald to facing racist abuse
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has sparked controversy after making comments that compared verbal abuse he received during Spain’s victory parade to racist abuse that black players have faced at various LaLiga stadiums this season.
Spain manager heckled during UEFA Nations League celebrations
After Spain’s victory in the UEFA Nations League final to claim the first trophy of de la Fuente’s reign as La Roja manager, a few hecklers disrupted the celebratory parade, hurling insults at the manager and Barcelona youngster Gavi.
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Speaking on the abuse he received, de la Fuente said, “You couldn’t hear well. Behind all the speakers and such, you could not hear it well. Those things bother me. Rude manners and disrespect bother me.
“There were 20 maniacs who were being annoying. It always happens in these places, that a few people are irritating and the rest are silent.”
De la Fuente makes surprising comments about racism
De la Fuente made known the impact the chanting had on him and the celebrations but then astonishingly compared the taunts he received to the racist abuse that has plagued LaLiga, especially in the 2022/23 season.
The Spain manager said, “There was a magical atmosphere, but this is objectionable and renounceable. What would have happened if someone had yelled ‘black, black, black’ ?”
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De la Fuente’s comments come in the wake of mounting pressure on LaLiga and Spanish authorities to stamp out racism from its stadiums after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior was triggered by abuse from supporters at Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium.
In Brazil’s match at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium as part of their campaign against racism, a friend of Vinicius’ was also allegedly abused by stadium security, further worsening the country’s reputation as a hotbed for racial intolerance.
The national team manager’s comments have done little to help that image, as he also appeared not to fully grasp the severity of the racially intolerant incidents or the difference between them and the disheartening abuse he faced at the hands of rabble-rousers.
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