Ex-Spanish PM Accused of Racism over France Squad

Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is facing accusations of racism after claiming that the French national soccer team “does not have any French players”.

Writing for the newspaper El Debate ahead of France’s World Cup semifinal against Spain, Rajoy noted that France had won every match at the tournament, topped the FIFA rankings and had a strong squad before making the remark.

His comments prompted sharp criticism in both countries. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on X that some people still judged belonging by surname, place of birth or skin color. Spain, he said, belonged to those who loved it and worked for it, not those who shamed it with xenophobic statements.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called Rajoy’s remarks “completely unacceptable” and said France was a country of diversity. Olivier Faure, leader of the French Socialist Party, noted that the national team consisted entirely of French citizens.

French left-wing politicians compared Rajoy’s comments to recent racist remarks by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla about Kylian Mbappé.

(The Guardian, bak)