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Former Spanish PM accused of racism in remarks about French football team
The former Spanish conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy has been accused of racism after writing in a World Cup column for the online newspaper El Debate that the French national football team "does not have any French players". The remarks, published ahead of Spain's semi-final against France, drew swift rebukes from political leaders in both countries and were widely read as questioning the belonging of players on the basis of their heritage or skin colour. The controversy matters because it feeds into a broader debate about racism and national identity that has repeatedly surfaced around the French squad.
In his column, Rajoy praised France as a two-time world champion, current Fifa No 1 and formidable opponent, before adding that "they don't have any French players". Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, condemned the "xenophobic statements", writing that "Spain belongs to those who love it and work for it", while French interior minister Laurent Nuñez called the comments "completely unacceptable". French politicians including Socialist leader Olivier Faure, Communist leader Fabien Roussel and overseas territories minister Naïma Moutchou also criticised Rajoy, with several comparing his words to a recent racist attack on Kylian Mbappé by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla, over which the French football federation has already filed a complaint with Paris prosecutors.
Explained simply
Mariano Rajoy served as Spain's prime minister for eight years until 2018. He recently contributed a column to an online newspaper in which he commented ahead of a World Cup semi-final that the French national football team "does not have any French players". The remark quickly drew criticism from politicians in both Spain and France.
Rajoy's comment was widely interpreted as questioning whether players with ethnic or immigrant backgrounds truly belong to France, despite representing the country internationally. The remarks reflect an ongoing debate about national identity and representation in international football, particularly around the French squad.
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez called the comments xenophobic, and French political and government leaders also strongly opposed them. The controversy matters because it shows how questions about racism and national identity continue to surface around high-profile sports teams, and because it comes amid previous racist attacks directed at French players.
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