{"id":7303,"date":"2026-07-13T17:10:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T17:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=7303"},"modified":"2026-07-13T17:10:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T17:10:29","slug":"former-spanish-leader-is-criticized-for-comments-about-frances-world-cup-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=7303","title":{"rendered":"Former Spanish leader is criticized for comments about France’s World Cup team"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FILE – Spain\u2019s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy attends a press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Friday, June 16, 2017. (AP Photo\/Francois Mori, File)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

MADRID \u2014 A former Spanish prime minister is facing criticism for saying that France\u2019s World Cup<\/a> team \u201cdoes not have any French players,\u201d which French and Spanish leaders have called racist.<\/p>

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Mariano Rajoy, a member of Spain\u2019s conservative Popular Party, made the comment in a column for Spanish outlet El Debate ahead of Tuesday\u2019s World Cup semifinal between the European neighbors.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve won every match they\u2019ve played at this World Cup and are currently top of the FIFA rankings. They also have an exceptionally strong squad. That said, one thing they don\u2019t have is any French players,\u201d Rajoy wrote on July 10.<\/p>\n

On Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-No\u00ebl Barrot told French broadcaster BFM TV that \u201cFrance has no skin color. Any contrary claim stems from stupidity, racism or a combination of the two.\u201d<\/p>\n

A day earlier, French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo wrote on X that \u201cMariano Rajoy\u2019s remarks about the French team carry intolerable whiffs of racism,\u201d adding that \u201cthey also raise questions about the deplorable climate that gives rise to such sentiments. Our players do not need a certificate of nationality from a former Spanish prime minister.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spokesperson from Rajoy\u2019s Popular Party on Monday said the remarks were sarcastic and made without malice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese columns are written without ill intent,\u201d said spokesperson Borja S\u00e9mper. \u201cThis expression is used without ill intent.\u201d<\/p>

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Spain\u2019s ruling Socialist government swiftly condemned the remarks by Rajoy, who was prime minister from 2011 to 2018.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez referenced the comments without naming his predecessor, writing on X: \u201cThere are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin color. Others measure it by our roots in a country and our will to contribute to it. Playing soccer. Caring for our elders. Or opening businesses. France, we\u2019ll see you in the semifinals. May the best one win and may racism lose.\u201d<\/p>\n

France will face Spain on Tuesday in Dallas.<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Foreign Minister Jos\u00e9 Manuel Albares also spoke out Monday, saying the Popular Party\u2019s leader, Alberto N\u00fa\u00f1ez Feij\u00f3o, needed to disavow the remarks.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not the first time France\u2019s team has faced racism during this World Cup.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, French captain and star player Kylian Mbapp\u00e9<\/a>condemned a Paraguayan senator<\/a> over remarks she made following Paraguay\u2019s loss to France in the round of 16.<\/p>\n

Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay\u2019s Liberal Radical Party, posted a series of comments on X mocking the French player\u2019s origins, upbringing, education and appearance after France won on July 4 with a penalty by Mbapp\u00e9.<\/p>

Read more Wetherholt has $20 million in escalators as part of $112.5 million, 8-year contract with Cardinals<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is facing backlash for comments about France\u2019s World Cup team ahead of their match<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7301,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"\nFormer Spanish leader is criticized for comments about France's World Cup team - Moving Insider USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=7303\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Former Spanish leader is criticized for comments about France's World Cup team - 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