Mariano Rajoy Sparks Controversy Over French National Team Comments
Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has ignited international tension with France following his assertion in an opinion piece that the French national soccer team lacks French players. This remark provoked a strong backlash from officials and politicians in France, with Spain’s current socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accusing Rajoy of xenophobia.
Rajoy, who led Spain from 2011 to 2018 before Sánchez took over, has recently shared several opinion pieces in Spanish media, particularly focusing on Spain’s performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In a Friday article published by Eldebate with the title “Hey, thank you very much,” he reflected on Spain’s recent win against Belgium and the upcoming semifinal match on July 14 against France.
Within the article, Rajoy highlighted France’s successful soccer history, mentioning their World Cup victories and current undefeated streak in this year’s tournament. However, he controversially claimed that the French team does not consist of any French players. “They have a very high-level team. Even though they don’t have any French players, they are playing very well. They will be a formidable opponent,” he stated.
Foreign media have pointed out that many athletes on the French team hail from immigrant backgrounds or former French colonies. This has led to a wave of criticism towards Rajoy’s comments, with French officials labeling them as racist. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez condemned the remarks as “completely unacceptable,” stating that they do not reflect the essence of France, which celebrates diversity.
The French embassy in Spain also responded, indicating that while “we do not wish to be drawn into controversy,” all players on the team are indeed French. They noted that 23 out of 26 players were born in France, with three born abroad.
In the wake of the criticism, Sánchez voiced his condemnation of Rajoy’s comments, emphasizing in a social media post that identity should not be judged by surname, birthplace, or skin color. “Spain belongs to those who love it and work for it,” he wrote, adding, “May the best team win and racism lose.”
This incident marks the second diplomatic dispute involving the French national team and a political figure in recent days. Just last week, Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla and French captain Kylian Mbappé found themselves embroiled in controversy over accusations of “gender violence,” after Mbappé’s harsh remarks towards Amarilla.
