Former Spain PM criticised for ‘xenophobic’ remark on French World Cup team

Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has ignited controversy with a remark about the French World Cup team, sparking condemnation from Spanish and French officials. Rajoy, writing in an opinion piece for the Spanish website El Debate, stated that the French team had "no French players" ahead of a World Cup semifinal match.

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There are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin colour. Others measure it by our roots in a country and our will to contribute to it. Spain belongs to those who love it and work for it. Not to those who shame it with xenophobic statements.

Spain's current Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, denounced the comment as "xenophobic," emphasizing that belonging to Spain is measured by contribution and love for the country, not by origin or skin color. Other Spanish officials, including Transport Minister Oscar Puente, also criticized Rajoy harshly.

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it was "absolutely unacceptable".

French politicians echoed the outrage. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez deemed the comment "absolutely unacceptable." Communist party leader Fabien Roussel and anti-discrimination minister Aurore Berge drew parallels to past racist remarks, with Berge calling for sport to be judged solely on talent.

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They just can’t stop themselves from slinging this disgusting racism.

France's embassy in Madrid clarified that all French team players are indeed French, with 23 of the 26 born in France and the others naturalized. French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo also condemned Rajoy's comments for their "intolerable undertone of racism."

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It’s time they stopped and that sport becomes sport again: a place where you are judged on your talent and by no other criteria.