Madrid: Remarks by former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy about the migrant backgrounds of players in France's national football team have sparked a political row ahead of the countries' World Cup semifinal. Rajoy, who served as Spain's prime minister from 2011 to 2018, made the comments in a column published by the Spanish newspaper El Debate after Spain advanced to the semifinals.
According to Anadolu Agency, Rajoy referred to France's footballing record and its position at the top of the FIFA rankings, describing the squad as "a top-level team, even though it is not made up of Frenchmen," apparently referring to the family origins of several players. The remarks have drawn criticism from French officials and sparked a broader conversation on identity and racism.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the remarks as "absolutely unacceptable," according to BFM television. "It does not reflect France's true identity at all," Nunez said. "France is a country of diversity, where everyone can thrive and find their place." Nunez expressed concern that such comments could incite racist attacks against French national team players, particularly captain Kylian Mbappe.
Aurore Berge, France's minister responsible for gender equality and combating discrimination, also condemned the remarks via US social media company X, stating that "racist slips are unacceptable." She emphasized that the French national team reflects the best of the nation, representing "a France that wins, dares, plays as a team and stands tall in the face of adversity."
French Overseas Territories Minister Naim Moutchou argued that Rajoy's remarks should not be overlooked as a mere verbal slip, calling it "systematic and normalized hatred toward France and the values it represents." Moutchou urged for "all possible legal action" over the comments.
The French Embassy in Spain highlighted that each member of the national team is a French citizen. "It is useful to recall the facts, without seeking to create any controversy: All the players on the French national team are French," the embassy stated. They noted that 23 of the 26 players were born in France, while the remaining three, though born abroad, are also French citizens.
Rajoy's remarks also faced backlash in Spain. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez criticized those who judge a person's sense of belonging by their surname, birthplace, or skin color. "Others measure it by their roots in a country and their willingness to contribute to it, whether by playing football, caring for our elderly or starting a business," Sanchez said on X. He affirmed that "Spain belongs to those who love it and work for it, not to those who shame it with xenophobic rhetoric."
As Spain and France prepare to meet in the World Cup semifinal on July 14, Sanchez extended a message to France: "See you in the semifinal. May the best team win, and may racism lose."