Spain's Sánchez condemns ex-PM Rajoy's racist remarks about French football team ahead of World Cup semifinal

Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has sparked a diplomatic and political storm with racist comments about the French men’s football team, drawing sharp rebukes from leaders in both France and Spain. In an article published in the Spanish daily El Debate, Rajoy described the French team as a “very high-level squad. Of course, without Frenchmen,” alluding to the African origins of some of the players.
The remarks have triggered a wave of condemnation, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez leading the charge. Sanchez took to social media to denounce Rajoy’s comments as “xenophobic” and asserted that Spain is a country that embraces diversity. “Spain is for those who love and work for it, not for those who embarrass it with xenophobic statements,” Sanchez wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. He concluded his message with a call for unity ahead of the upcoming World Cup semifinal between France and Spain: “May the best team win, and may racism lose.”
French officials have also expressed their outrage. Laurent Nunez, France’s Interior Minister, called Rajoy’s comments “absolutely unacceptable” and stated that they do not reflect the values of France. “France is a diverse country where everyone can thrive,” Nunez said in an interview with BMF TV. The French Embassy in Spain issued a statement on X, noting that 23 out of the 26 players on the French team were born in France.
The backlash extends beyond official statements. Olivier Faure, leader of the French Socialist Party, responded sharply on X, stating, “The French team is composed solely of French players. France is not an ethnic nation; it has no color or religion. It is a political nation united around the republican motto.” Fabien Roussel, leader of the French Communist Party, also condemned Rajoy’s remarks, calling them “crude racism.”
The controversy comes at a sensitive time, just days before France and Spain are set to face each other in the World Cup semifinals. The match, scheduled for Tuesday, has taken on added significance in light of Rajoy’s comments. French Sports Minister Aurore Bergé called for an end to the “repeated racist slurs” and expressed pride in the French team’s diversity and success. “The French team shows the best of us: a France that wins, dares, plays as a team, and resists adversity,” Bergé said.
The incident has also drawn comparisons to a recent controversy involving Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla, who made racist remarks about French star Kylian Mbappé. Amarilla’s comments, which included calling Mbappé a “brute” and making derogatory remarks about his background, have further fueled the debate about racism in football.
As the backlash grows, calls for action have intensified. Naïma Moutchou, France’s Minister for Overseas Territories, has urged the French Football Federation to take legal action against Rajoy. “With each victory by the Bleus, the same obsessions and racist insults resurface. This is not just a slip of the tongue. It is methodical and banalized hatred against France and what it represents,” Moutchou said on X.
The French Football Federation has not yet responded to the calls for legal action. However, the controversy has already overshadowed the build-up to the highly anticipated semifinal match between France and Spain. As both nations prepare to face off on the pitch, the incident has underscored the ongoing struggle against racism in sports and society at large.
In Spain, the political fallout continues. Left-wing parties have joined Sanchez in condemning Rajoy’s remarks. The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and Podemos have both issued statements denouncing the former prime minister’s comments as racist and out of touch with modern Spain.
As the story develops, all eyes will be on the response from the French Football Federation and the potential implications for the upcoming match. One thing is clear: Rajoy’s comments have struck a nerve, highlighting the deep-seated issues of racism and xenophobia that continue to plague the world of sports and beyond.
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![[lalibre] Pedro Sanchez fustige les "déclarations xénophobes" de Mariano Rajoy sur léquipe de France de football #Europe](https://files.mastodon.social/cache/preview_cards/images/199/912/022/original/bcd69202d3298cae.jpg)

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