AFTER being "appalled and disgusted" by the despicable taunts aimed at many of England's players in midweek, Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren last night urged football to unite against racism.

McClaren, Sven Goran Eriksson's assistant, was in the England dug-out in the Bernabeu when Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jermain Defoe, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand and Newcastle's Jermaine Jenas were all targeted by bigots during the friendly with Spain.

Middlesbrough are the first English side to go back to Spanish soil next week when they take on Villarreal in the UEFA Cup but the boss revealed he will not withdraw his players should they be subjected to similar abuse.

There has been a suggestion that the England stars targeted should have just walked from the field as the chants echoed around Real Madrid's famous home.

And Middlesbrough striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has since indicated he would have been extremely tempted to take such action if he was victimised in that way.

But McClaren believes the only way to counter the problem is to face it head on.

"I spoke to Jimmy and he said he would feel like he would walk off, and that's understandable," said McClaren, who was keen to stress he does not expect the coloured players in his side to encounter a similar atmosphere next week.

"That would be everyone's initial reaction but in the long run I don't think that would do anyone any good.

"The way to fight it is by being professional about it. It's like on Wednesday - if certain players were left on the bench then who is dictating to who.

"You can't allow anything like that to dictate decisions. We will approach the game in exactly the same way.

"We don't expect any trouble or anything of that sort.

"I don't think that kind of extreme reaction (to walk off) could happen because then you are just giving in. Who is winning then?

"It's a football match and you have to play. Whatever the circumstances, you have to deal with them.

"We deal with everything we can control, which is our behaviour and the way we play, but we can't control the crowd and other outside forces.

"Say we are 2-0 up against Villarreal and they make certain comments and you react, then what is the point? They win. You are giving in to the people who are doing it, and it is only the minority. I don't think in the long run it would do anybody any good. It would play into the hands of such people.

"But by being professional, which has always been expressed, that's the way you fight it."

World governing body FIFA are now investigating the matter and are also examining closely a dossier presented by the English Football Association which included comments by Spain coach Luis Aragones.

After initial silence, the Spanish Football Federation yesterday apologised for the abuse but are being pressurised to identify the culprits responsible.

And McClaren, firmly believing the incident will not become a regular occurrence, is demanding firm action be taken by FIFA, who are also aware of 'racist behaviour' at England's Under-21s game on Tuesday night.

"This is an opportunity to put a marker down to condemn it like the rest of football is. The punishment has to be such that it stops people from doing it again," said McClaren, ahead of Middlesbrough's Premiership clash with Liverpool at the Riverside Stadium today.

"It's not up to me to say what that punishment should be. We have to wait to see what punishment is dished out and then we can say whether it's right or wrong.

"We were appalled by it on the night, and we still are. It's the worst I've ever experienced in football.

"It was so blatant, and coming in a big game, so unexpected, a massive surprise.

''I was really appalled that people can actually behave like that, but I think comments (from Aragones) were made that fuelled the situation. Whether it led to the scenes on Wednesday, I don't know. But it certainly wouldn't have helped.

"We've all got a responsibility in football, when we are in such positions, to be careful what we say and that we support whatever campaign is going on in football.

"Even if it is just one incident, it has to be dealt with.

"The ball is firmly in the authorities' court and they have to deal with it, act on it and punish, and the punishment should be severe."

Middlesbrough travel to Valencia on Wednesday ahead of their Group E game at the El Madrigal Stadium against Villarreal.

And McClaren is hoping to be given a little indication of how the Spaniards will play by this afternoon's visit of Liverpool to a sell-out Riverside Stadium.

The Reds are managed by former Valencia boss Rafael Benitez, who added fellow country-men Luis Garcia, Antonio Nunez, Josemi and Xabi Alonso to his ranks at Anfield during the summer.

And McClaren is of the belief that Liverpool's tactics could have come straight from the Primera Liga's school of thought.

"It's going to be good practice for our game in Villarreal because Rafael seems to have brought a certain Spanish style to Liverpool," he said.

"They are technically very good, they keep possession of the ball and dictate the play, and although they're in a transition period and they've been hampered by injuries, there is an influence there from the manager you can see."