Racist jab at France by ex-PM Mariano Rajoy fuels diplomatic fire

Spanish former prime minister Mariano Rajoy, now a commentator for El Debate, sparked a storm during the World Cup by saying the French team plays excellent football “but without Frenchmen in the squad”. His remark provoked immediate condemnation from both France and Spain, turning an already charged semi‑final clash into a diplomatic flashpoint. Rajoy, 71, led Spain from 2011 to 2018 before being ousted amid corruption investigations. During this World Cup he serves as an analyst for the Spanish newspaper El Debate, offering post‑match insights on La Roja and its opponents. In a deliberately provocative sentence he declared, “Het Franse team speelt uitstekend voetbal, maar zonder Fransen in de ploeg.” The phrase, captured by REUTERS/EPADe, was intended to draw attention and quickly became the headline of the controversy.

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French interior minister Laurent Nuñez labelled the comment “completely unacceptable”, stressing that it does not reflect what France is – a nation of diversity where everyone can find their place. Aurore Bergé, the minister responsible for anti‑discrimination, added that sport must return to being judged on talent, not on any other criterion. The incident echoes a previous political outburst: Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla attacked captain Kylian Mbappé after the France‑Paraguay (1‑0) match, questioning his background in a derogatory manner. Olivier Faure of the Socialistische Partij (PS) responded that France is not an ethnic nation but a political one united by the Republic’s motto.

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Spain’s own prime minister Pedro Sánchez rebuked Rajoy on X, arguing that belonging should be based on contribution, not on surname, birthplace or skin colour, and wishing that “the best win and racism lose” as the two sides meet in the semi‑final. The controversy also drew comments from Thibaut Courtois, who backed Simon Lammens after a mistake, underscoring the broader debate about talent and fairness. The dispute now looms over the upcoming World Cup semi‑final between France and Spain, adding a layer of tension beyond the pitch.