FORMER Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy has come under fire after making ‘racist’ comments about the French men’s football team ahead of their World Cup semi-final tie against Spain on Tuesday.
Rajoy, who served as prime minister from 2011 to 2018, has sparked widespread outrage after writing a column for Spanish publication El Debate previewing next week’s match.
“They are currently ranked number one in the FIFA rankings. They also have a top-level squad,” he wrote.
“That said, they don’t have any French players, and they are playing very well,” he added, alluding to the African ancestry of some of the players.
Those comments have prompted a wave of condemnation across the political spectrum in both Spain and France.
“There are those who still measure belonging by surname, place or birth, or skin colour,” wrote current prime minister Pedro Sanchez, who replaced Rajoy in 2018 after a vote of no confidence, on X.
“Others measure it by our roots in a country and our will to contribute to it. Playing football. Caring for our elders. Or opening businesses.
“Spain belongs to those who love it and work for it. Not to those who shame it with xenophobic statements.
“France, we’ll see you in the semi-finals. May the best one win and may racism lose.”
Olivier Faure, the leader of France’s Socialist Party, said: “The French team consists only of French people. France is not an ethnic nation; it has no skin colour or religion.
“It is a political nation united around the republican motto. Much to the dismay of the racist right.
French interior minister Laurent Nunez said Rajoy’s comments were ‘absolutely unacceptable’.
“That’s not what France is at all. France is a country of diversity where everyone can flourish and find their place.”
European champions Spain will take on France in Texas on Tuesday evening for a spot in Sunday’s showpiece final in New York.
England play Argentina the following day for the other spot in the final.
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