Rajoy sparks controversy over column about France in the World Cup

The opinion piece published by the former Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, in the media outlet El Debate, sparked a strong reaction in France over the weekend. His comments regarding the French national team, just days before the semifinal against Spain, provoked rejection among French ministers and political leaders, who considered his words an expression of “crude racism” and “hatred.”

In his article, Rajoy pointed out that France “also has a squad of a very high level,” although, in his words, it is a team “without Frenchmen.” This statement was interpreted in France as a slight against the players called up by Didier Deschamps, which is why responses from the political sphere were quick to multiply.

One of the first to respond was Olivier Faure, leader of the French Socialist Party. Faure posted a direct message on X: “The French national team is composed only of French people. France is not an ethnic nation, it has no skin color or religion. It is a political nation united around the republican motto. Even if it bothers the racist right.” Faure defended the conception of France as a civic community, based on the principle of citizenship and not on origin or religion.

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Along the same lines, Fabien Roussel, the top leader of the French Communist Party, also used social media to respond to Rajoy’s comment: “Yesterday it was a senator from Paraguay, now the former prime minister of Spain: they cannot help but express crude racism to try to irritate our beautiful French national team,” he wrote. Roussel referred to recent episodes in which representatives from other countries had questioned the multi-ethnic composition of the French team, considering that such statements seek to provoke and diminish the sporting achievements of the team.

The rejection crossed party lines and reached the French Government itself. Naïma Moutchou, Minister of Overseas Territories and a member of the Horizons party, denounced what she considered a recurring attitude: “With every victory of the Bleus, the same obsessions and racist insults reappear. These are not simple ‘slips’. It is a methodical and trivialized hatred towards France and what it is,” she stated. Moutchou suggested that the French Football Federation evaluate the possibility of initiating “legal action” against these types of manifestations.

For her part, Aurore Bergé, Minister for Equality between Women and Men and the Fight against Discrimination and member of the Renaissance party, added her voice to the debate. Bergé spoke of “repeated racist slips,” and maintained that “it is time for them to cease and for sport to return to being sport: a place where people are judged by their talent and by no other criteria.” Her statement highlighted the importance of not allowing racism or discrimination to condition the recognition of athletes. The Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, was interviewed by BFMTV and also referred to Rajoy’s words. Nuñez stated that, if those statements are faithful to what was published, they are “absolutely unacceptable.” Thus, the French government showed unanimous rejection of any discourse that questions the nationality of the players.

The French embassy also expresses its rejection

The French Embassy in Madrid also intervened in the debate by sharing a message on social media. “All players of the French national team are French. Of the 26 players, 23 were born in France. The three who were born abroad are also French,” the diplomatic delegation noted, underscoring the inclusive nature of the team and the full nationality of all its members.

The episode, just days before a semifinal match between both countries, reignited the discussion about the meaning of being French and the value of diversity in sports. The responses from the political class and French institutions showed a staunch defense of integration, citizenship, and the republican spirit, in contrast to Rajoy’s statements which, in the view of French leaders, do not reflect the reality or the spirit of the national team.