Aragones asked to explain comments - report

Spain coach Luis Aragones has been summoned by a government anti-violence body to explain his remarks about Britain’s colonial past on the eve of Wednesday’s friendly match between Spain and England, according to Spanish media reports.

Aragones will on Tuesday be called before the Comision Nacional Antiviolencia (National Antiviolence Committee) which is a body made up of officials from Spain’s Interior Ministry and the Sports Ministry, according to Spanish sports daily AS.

The commission, which has draconian powers, has moved to act because the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) are currently effectively leaderless because of presidential elections.

Aragones reacted angrily to persistent questioning by the British media in relation to offensive language he had used on an earlier occasion about Arsenal’s French striker Thierry Henry, who is black.

“I know who is racist,” Aragones said.

“I remember the colonies. There are people who ran after them like wolves after prey.”

In Wednesday’s match, England’s black players Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips were subjected to constant racial abuse by sections of the Spanish support in the match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, which was won 1-0 by Spain.

After the match Aragones consistently refused to condemn the racist chanting.

It is understood the commission will also examine the behaviour of the supporters.

There have also been concerns raised in Madrid about the impact the row could have on the Spanish capital’s bid for the 2012 Olympics.