Former Spanish leader is criticized for comments about France’s World Cup team
French and Spanish leaders condemned the remarks as racist, while the French squad had won every match and topped FIFA rankings.
- On Sunday, Spain's conservative ex-prime minister Mariano Rajoy faced backlash after stating in an opinion piece that the French national football team had "no French players," ahead of Tuesday's World Cup semi-final.
- The comment appeared in an opinion piece on the Spanish site Debate as Spain prepares to play France, while official data confirms that of 26 players on the French squad, 23 were born in France, with three born abroad.
- Denouncing the comments as "absolutely unacceptable," Interior Minister Laurent Nunez responded, while Minister against discrimination Aurore Berge called them "repeated racist outbursts." French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo cited an "intolerable undertone of racism."
- Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the remark as "xenophobic," writing that Spain belongs to those who contribute to it, while Transport Minister Oscar Puente dismissed Rajoy as a "post-Franco idiot."
- Communist party leader Fabien Roussel compared the incident to remarks by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla, who previously described star player Kylian Mbappé as a "colonised Cameroonian," highlighting a pattern of such rhetoric in sports.
151 Articles
151 Articles
"The highest-level cadre. However, without the French – with this racist statement Spain's former Prime Minister Rajoy caused indignation. France's far-rights also have a tense relationship with their national football team.
Madrid. Organizations against racism asked former Spanish president Mariano Rajoy “to apologize” for his statements about the French team, considering that his comments “bring xenophobia” for saying that Les Bleus “played without French” having footballers of various origins.
Mariano Rajoy ends up at the center of a political and diplomatic controversy on the eve of the semi-final of the World Cup 2026 between Spain and France. The former Spanish Prime Minister, who during the tournament has a column on El Debate dedicated to the matches of the national team, described the Bleus as a very strong team, adding however a racist phrase that [...] The article "France is strong but has no French": it is a blizzard for the …
"The highest-level cadre. However, without the French – with this racist statement Spain's former Prime Minister Rajoy caused indignation. France's far-rights also have a tense relationship with their national football team.
Spain star Lamine Yamal spoke about the racist statements of former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy before the World Cup semi-final against France. Also: White House Fifa Commissioner for England. All news in our World Cup ticker.
Los Angeles Times
Independent EspañolA former Spanish president faces criticism for claiming that the French team in the World Cup has no French players, something that French and Spanish leaders have described as racist.
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