Rajoy’s Remark on France's Football Team Sparks Racism Row
French officials and Spanish politicians condemned the remark after Rajoy said Spain should win “without the French,” with France noting all 26 squad members are French nationals.
- Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy faced backlash after writing "that is, without the French" in an El Debate column, a remark politicians in Spain and France interpreted as racist.
- Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez denounced the statement as "xenophobic," while People's Party spokesperson Borja Sémper defended the phrase as "sarcastic" and said "We, unlike Mr Sánchez, want Spain to win in any way, shape or form."
- France's minister delegate for equality Aurore Bergé condemned the "repeated racist excesses" on Sunday via social media, while the French Embassy in Spain stressed that every member of the squad holds French nationality.
- Diversity defines current national squads; 23 of 26 French players were born in France, while Spain's La Roja features Aymeric Laporte, Lamine Yamal, and Nico Williams with diverse backgrounds.
- National secretary of the French Communist Party Fabien Roussel demanded the former leader be "condemned," comparing the opinion piece to racist comments recently voiced in Paraguay against Les Bleus captain Kylian Mbappé.
37 Articles
37 Articles
A young Spanish star has highlighted the power of football following a racist remark by former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
Spain's Jungstar Lamine Yamal, according to the racist statement of former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy before the World Cup semi-final against France, referred to the combined power of football.
The Spanish player Lamine Yamal responded to Mariano Rajoy’s comments on the selection of France. In this regard, he stated that there is no room for racism. This was said during a Lamine Yamal press conference prior to the match Spain vs France, adding to the criticisms of other players against what they defined as racism. “I don’t think there’s room to talk about it, but if football is of any use it is to integrate.” Lamine Yamal, player of th…
A phrase from the former Spanish ruler about a French "without French" opened a diplomatic clash 24 hours from the mid-final. The PP devalues the theme and notes the tone of sarcasm. In Paris, the reaction was soon
Jean Nöel Barrot responded to statements by former Spanish government president Mariano Rajoy, who in one article said that the French football team has “a very high level, that is, without French.”
Spain's Ex-PM: France Is Great, Doesn't Have 'French Players'
A former Spanish prime minister is facing criticism for saying that France's World Cup team "does not have any French players," which French and Spanish leaders have called racist. Mariano Rajoy, a member of Spain's conservative Popular Party, made the comment in a column for Spanish outlet El Debate ahead...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
