​MADRID (AP) — A former Spanish prime minister is drawing sharp criticism for saying that France’s World Cup squad “does not have any French players,” a remark that French and Spanish leaders have denounced as racist. Mariano Rajoy, the head of Spain’s conservative Popular Party and prime minister from 2011 to 2018, made the comment in a column published by the Spanish outlet El Debate ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup semifinal between France and Spain.
“They’ve won every match they’ve played at this World Cup and are currently top of the FIFA rankings. They also have an exceptionally strong squad. That said, one thing they don’t have is any French players,” Rajoy wrote on July 10.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot responded on Monday in an interview with BFM TV, saying, “France has no skin color. Any contrary claim stems from stupidity, racism or a combination of the two.”
The French Football Federation (FFF) weighed in a day earlier as well. FFF president Philippe Diallo wrote on X that “Mariano Rajoy’s remarks about the French team carry intolerable whiffs of racism,” adding that they also highlight “the deplorable climate that gives rise to such sentiments. Our players do not need a certificate of nationality from a former Spanish prime minister.”
Spain’s ruling Socialist government quickly condemned Rajoy’s remarks. The former prime minister’s comments came amid a broader public conversation in Spain about national identity and the representation of immigrants and their descendants within Spanish society and sports. Rajoy’s tenure as prime minister spanned from 2011 to 2018, and his comments have sparked renewed scrutiny of the stance taken by the country’s political leadership on issues of race and nationality in the context of a global sporting event.
In a broader political response, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez referenced the controversy without naming Rajoy directly. On X, he wrote: “There are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin color. Others measure it by our roots in a country and our will to contribute to it. Playing soccer. Caring for our elders. Or opening businesses. France, we’ll see you in the semifinals. May the best one win and may racism lose.” France was set to meet Spain on Tuesday in Dallas.
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares also weighed in, urging Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the Popular Party, to disavow the remarks. The controversy comes as France’s team has faced racism during this World Cup, with incidents involving supporters and public figures.
Earlier in the tournament, Kylian Mbappé, the French captain and star player, condemned remarks by a Paraguayan senator after France’s round-of-16 victory. Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, posted a series of X messages mocking Mbappé’s origins, upbringing, education, and appearance after France won on July 4 with a penalty converted by Mbappé. The episode underscored the persistence of racist and xenophobic commentary surrounding the World Cup and highlighted the ongoing challenge of addressing racism in football.
The incident has sparked discussions about national identity, the meaning of belonging, and the responsibilities of political leaders to reject xenophobia and racism in sports. As the World Cup progressed toward its semifinals, European leaders continued to call out racism in the sport and in broader society, emphasizing that talent in international competition transcends nationality and ancestry.