Mariano Rajoy, the former conservative prime minister of Spain, is encountering increasing backlash for his controversial comments regarding the French national football team. In a column for the online publication El Debate, he asserted that the team features “does not have any French players” leading to accusations of racism.
Rajoy, who served as prime minister from 2011 until 2018, shared his thoughts on Spain’s upcoming semi-final match against France in the World Cup. He noted, “It’s worth remembering that France has been a two-time world champion and was a finalist in the last World Cup,”
The remarks have drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Spain’s current prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, who expressed his disapproval through a post on X. He stated, “They’ve won every match they’ve played in this World Cup and are currently ranked No 1 in the Fifa rankings. They also have a top-level squad. That said, they don’t have any French players. And they’re playing very well. They’ll be a formidable opponent.”
Reactions from French Officials
Rajoy’s comments sparked outrage in France, with government officials quick to respond. Laurent Nuñez, France’s interior minister, labeled the remarks as “There are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin colour,” during an interview on BFMTV, emphasizing that such views do not represent the nation’s values. “Others measure it by our roots in a country and our will to contribute to it. Playing football. Caring for our elders. Or opening businesses. Spain belongs to those who love it and work for it. Not to those who shame it with xenophobic statements.” he asserted.
Olivier Faure, leader of the French Socialist Party, underscored that the French national team consists solely of French citizens. He remarked, “That’s completely unacceptable,”
Fabien Roussel, head of the French Communist Party, condemned Rajoy’s statements, drawing parallels with recent racist remarks made by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla regarding player Kylian Mbappé. Roussel stated, “That’s completely not what France is about. France is a country of diversity where everyone can thrive and find their place.”
Systemic Issues of Racism
Others have pointed to a troubling trend, suggesting that similar racist sentiments resurface each time the French team achieves success. Naïma Moutchou, France’s minister for overseas territories, commented, “France is not an ethnic nation; it has no skin colour or religion,”
Moutchou urged the French football federation, which has already lodged a complaint with Paris prosecutors regarding Amarilla’s remarks, to pursue all legal options available against such rhetoric.
In his closing remarks on X, Sánchez extended a sportsmanlike invitation, stating, “It is a political nation united around the republican motto – much to the chagrin of the racist right.”
