Rajoy accused of racism over France World Cup remarks ahead of Spain semi-final

Former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy is facing accusations of racism from senior figures in both France and Spain after writing that the French World Cup squad “does not have any French players”, days before the two nations meet in Tuesday’s semi-final.

Rajoy, who led Spain’s conservative Popular Party government from 2011 to 2018, made the remarks in a column for the online outlet El Debate published on Friday 10 July. Previewing Spain’s last-four meeting with France, he praised Les Bleus’ record at the tournament and their status as top of the FIFA world rankings before adding: “That said, they don’t have any French players. And they’re playing very well. They’ll be a formidable opponent.”

Ministers in Paris and Madrid respond

The comments prompted a swift rebuke from Paris. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told BFM TV that “France has no skin colour”, adding that any suggestion otherwise “stems from stupidity, racism or a combination of the two”. The French Football Federation’s president was also reported to have criticised Rajoy’s column.

Spain’s current prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, weighed in too, posting on X that “there are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin colour”, contrasting this with people who contribute to their country “playing football, caring for our elders, or opening businesses”. Sánchez said Spain “belongs to those who love it and work for it, not to those who shame it with xenophobic statements” — a pointed dig at his political rival without naming Rajoy directly.

Echoes of Mbappé abuse row

Rajoy’s remarks have drawn comparisons with a separate episode earlier this month, when a Paraguayan senator posted racially charged abuse aimed at France forward Kylian Mbappé on social media. French prosecutors are understood to have opened an investigation into that incident, and commentators have noted the similarity in tone between the two controversies as debate intensifies over the treatment of players of diverse heritage at this year’s finals.

Rajoy has not publicly withdrawn or apologised for his column since the criticism emerged. His comments come at a sensitive moment for French football, where the diversity of the national squad has long been a point of national pride since the multicultural side that won the 1998 World Cup on home soil.

Focus turns to the pitch

The row threatens to overshadow build-up to Tuesday’s semi-final, in which France — unbeaten so far in the tournament and ranked number one by FIFA — face a Spain side bidding to reach a first World Cup final in over a decade. Both federations will be hoping the focus returns to the football itself once the teams take to the pitch.

Sources

• The Independent
• The Guardian

This is an independent report written from the facts across the sources named above.