Mariano Rajoy, the former conservative prime minister of Spain, is under increasing scrutiny for allegations of racism following a statement he made in a World Cup column. Rajoy claimed that the French national team “does not have any French players” in an article published on Friday in the online newspaper El Debate.
Rajoy, who served from 2011 to 2018, reflected on Spain’s upcoming semi-final match against France, noting the team’s impressive track record. He stated, “It’s worth remembering that France has been a two-time world champion and was a finalist in the last World Cup,”
The former prime minister’s comments drew immediate backlash, particularly from Spain’s current leader. Pedro Sánchez took to social media to respond, emphasizing that some people still judge belonging based on “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.” He added, “There are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin colour,”
French Officials Respond to Rajoy’s Remarks
Rajoy’s remarks sparked outrage in France as well. France’s interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, expressed his disapproval during an interview with BFMTV, stating, “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.”
Olivier Faure, leader of the French Socialist Party, defended the integrity of the national team, asserting that it is made up entirely of French citizens. He stated, “That’s completely unacceptable,”
Fabien Roussel, leader of the French Communist Party, condemned Rajoy’s comments, likening them to a recent racist outburst from Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla, who disparaged Kylian Mbappé. Roussel remarked, “That’s completely not what France is about. France is a country of diversity where everyone can thrive and find their place.”
Ongoing Concerns Over Racism
Others noted a troubling pattern in the backlash against successful French teams. Naïma Moutchou, France’s minister for overseas territories, articulated that “France is not an ethnic nation; it has no skin colour or religion,” She insisted that such comments represent a “It is a political nation united around the republican motto – much to the chagrin of the racist right.” calling for the French football federation to pursue all legal avenues in response to such hate speech.
Sánchez concluded his post with a message of goodwill, saying, “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French”
