Aragones cleared of racist conduct

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MADRID, Spain -- Spain coach Luis Aragones has been cleared of racist conduct by a Spanish court after his derogatory remarks about France striker Thierry Henry in October 2004.

"The court found that the Spanish Committee for Sporting Discipline (CEDD) had incorrectly evaluated the evidence," said the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

"We now hope that all measures will be taken to clear the good name of the national coach and the RFEF disciplinary committees."

Aragones caused controversy in October 2004 when he was heard during training making a remark about Henry to his then Arsenal team-mate Jose Antonio Reyes.

The 68-year-old Aragones was originally fined 3,000 euros for behavior "contrary to the good order of the sport" by the RFEF.

The offence was upgraded to "conduct which could be considered to be racist" by the government-run CEDD and both Aragones and the RFEF successfully appealed against that decision to the Spanish court.

The RFEF were unable to say, however, whether Aragones would still have to pay the fine for the original charge.

"I went to court because it was a stain on my reputation and because the offense did not exist as some judges believed," said Aragones.

Aragones initially apologised after widespread criticism of his behavior, saying he had not meant to offend anyone and that his conscience was clear.

He stirred further controversy, however, by mounting an energetic defense of his comments before a friendly against England in November 2004.

That match in Madrid was marred by racist abuse of England's black players by sections of the crowd.

Spain play England in a friendly at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

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