Rio Ferdinand has admitted he was prepared to walk off the pitch during Wednesdays’ friendly in Madrid as a result of the racist abuse aimed at England’s black players.
England’s Shaun Wright-Phillips and Ashley Cole were subjected to monkey chants from sections of the crowd.
“I don’t think anybody back in England or on the England team would have blamed us,” he said.
“It is a difficult call for the manager [to bring the players off], especially when you are losing. But the abuse was disgraceful,” told The Sun newspaper.
Ferdinand also called for action to be taken against Spanish coach Luis Aragones for his comments about Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.
Ferdinand said had England coach Sven Goran Eriksson made similar remarks he “would have been sacked – no doubt about it”.
“Their manager (Aragones) is meant to have said something racist and he was never punished, which maybe gives a signal out to fans that it’s okay,” Ferdinand told BBC Radio Five Live.
Jermaine Jenas said the racist abuse during the friendly was the worst he has experienced.
“It was not nice to hear such chants going on,” he said.
“It was very ignorant and wrong. It was disgraceful.
“Ashley is very upset, he was not happy about the abuse he got.”
“That was the worst I have ever experienced. I have encountered it before when playing for Newcastle in Europe but against Spain was the worst.
“Something has to be done or else it will continue to happen. It has to stop somewhere.
“Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips were very disappointed about what happened.”
Spain coach Luis Aragones made derogatory remarks about Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry in October.
