Spain's Ex-PM Rajoy Sparks Racism Row Over France's World Cup Squad

Mariano Rajoy, Spain's former prime minister, drew international condemnation for claiming France's World Cup team "does not have any French players" in a column published by Spanish outlet El Debate on July 10, ahead of the Spain-France semifinal scheduled for July 14 in Dallas. The remark was immediately denounced as racist by officials in France and Spain, triggering a diplomatic row between the neighbouring nations.

French officials responded swiftly. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told BFM TV that "France has no skin color. Any contrary claim stems from stupidity, racism or a combination of the two." Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, stated that Rajoy's remarks "carry intolerable whiffs of racism" and raised concerns about "the deplorable climate that gives rise to such sentiments." The French embassy in Spain countered with facts, noting that all 26 players on France's squad are French citizens, with 23 born in France and three abroad also holding French nationality.

Spain's government also condemned Rajoy's comments. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticised those who "measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin color," contrasting this with measuring belonging through a country's roots and willingness to contribute. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called on the opposition Popular Party's leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, to disavow the remarks. Transport Minister Óscar Puente dismissed Rajoy as "a fool from the post-Franco era."

The controversy extended beyond official channels. French Interior Minister Roland Nunez declared the comments "absolutely unacceptable," emphasising France as a country of diversity. Socialist and Communist party leaders in France also condemned the remarks, with Communist leader Fabien Roussel comparing them to earlier racist comments made by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla about French captain Kylian Mbappé following Paraguay's elimination from the tournament on July 4.

Rajoy, who served as Spain's prime minister from 2011 to 2018, wrote in his column that while France's team had won every match and ranked first in FIFA standings with "an exceptionally strong squad," the country lacked French players. The statement contradicted the factual composition of the French national team and became a focal point in discussions about racism in international football ahead of a crucial knockout match.