Ex-Spain PM’s ‘no French players’ remark sparks racism row ahead of World Cup semi-final

By Rohan Gupta — 13 July 2026 — 3 min read

Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has drawn widespread criticism following his comments that the France national football team has “no French players.” These remarks were published in an opinion piece for the Spanish news website El Debate, just before the World Cup semi-final match between Spain and France.

The statement has been condemned by political leaders in both Spain and France, who have described it as xenophobic and racist. Spain‘s current Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, publicly denounced the comments, stating on X that belonging should not be measured by surname, birthplace, or skin colour, but by one’s roots and willingness to contribute to a country. He added that Spain belongs to those who love and work for it, not to those who shame it with xenophobic remarks.

Widespread Condemnation from French Leaders

The backlash against Rajoy‘s remarks quickly spread across France. Laurent Nunez, France‘s Interior Minister, called the comments “absolutely unacceptable.” Aurore Berge, the Minister against Discrimination, highlighted the “repeated racist outbursts” and urged for a stop to such statements, advocating for sport to be a place where talent is the sole criterion for judgment.

Fabien Roussel, leader of the Communist Party, drew parallels between Rajoy‘s comments and earlier racist statements made by a Paraguayan senator concerning Kylian Mbappe, describing them as “disgusting racism.” French leaders emphasized that the national team is a representation of the country’s diversity.

Naima Moutchou, the Overseas Territories Minister, noted that “every time Les Bleus win, the same racist obsessions and insults re-emerge.” Olivier Faure, leader of the Socialist Party, reinforced this sentiment, stating that “France has no skin colour or religion.” He further elaborated that France is a political nation united by its republican motto, much to the dismay of the racist right.

The French embassy in Madrid also issued a response, clarifying that all players on the French team are French. They noted that out of 26 players, 23 were born in France, and the three born abroad are also French citizens. Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, also criticized Rajoy‘s statement, calling its undertone of racism “intolerable.”

Rajoy, who served as Prime Minister from 2011 to 2018, made his comments in a column for El Debate on Friday, where he reflected on Spain‘s upcoming semi-final match against France. In his article, he acknowledged France‘s strong performance, noting their status as a two-time world champion and a finalist in the last World Cup. He also highlighted their undefeated record in the current World Cup and their top ranking in FIFA, along with their high-calibre squad. Despite these acknowledgements, he included the controversial line, “That said, they don’t have any French players. And they’re playing very well. They’ll be a formidable opponent.”

Political and Sporting Reactions

The controversy has overshadowed the anticipation for the crucial World Cup semi-final. Political figures from both nations have stressed the importance of judging players based on their talent rather than their background or origin. Pedro Sanchez concluded his post on X with a wish for the semi-finals: “France, we’ll see you in the semi-finals. May the best team win and may racism lose.”

The remarks by Rajoy have been compared to a recent racist social media attack on Kylian Mbappé by a Paraguayan senator, Celeste Amarilla, who reportedly called Mbappé a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French.” Naïma Moutchou, France‘s minister for overseas territories, described Rajoy‘s words as more than mere “slips of the tongue,” characterizing them as a “methodical and normalised hatred of France and what it represents.” She urged the French football federation, which had previously filed a complaint with Paris prosecutors regarding Amarilla‘s comments, to pursue all legal avenues.

The incident underscores ongoing discussions about diversity and representation in sports, particularly within national teams. The French Football Federation‘s president, Philippe Diallo, reiterated the federation’s stance against such discriminatory remarks, emphasizing the unified identity of the national team. The semi-final match is scheduled for Tuesday.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter