A former Spanish prime minister has come under fire for saying France’s World Cup team had “no French players”.
Mariano Rajoy, a member of Spain’s conservative Popular Party, made the comment ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final between Spain and France.
“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,” Mr Rajoy wrote in a column for Spanish outlet El Debate on 10 July.
On Monday, French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot told French broadcaster BFM TV that “France has no skin colour.
“Any contrary claim stems from stupidity, racism or a combination of the two.”
The remarks by Mr Rajoy, who was prime minister from 2011 to 2018, were condemned by Spain’s governing Socialist party.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez referenced the comments without naming his predecessor, writing on X: “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.”
Also on Sunday, French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo wrote on X that “Mariano Rajoy’s remarks about the French team carry intolerable whiffs of racism,” adding that “they also raise questions about the deplorable climate that gives rise to such sentiments.
“Our players do not need a certificate of nationality from a former Spanish prime minister.”
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Earlier this month, French captain and star player Kylian Mbappe condemned a Paraguayan senator over remarks she made following her country’s loss to France in the round of 16.
Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, posted a series of comments on X mocking the French player’s origins, upbringing, education and appearance after France won on 4 July with a penalty by Mbappe.
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