Spain apologizes for ex-PM's column questioning 'Frenchness' of France team

Spain has formally apologized for remarks made by former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who questioned the "Frenchness" of the French men's soccer team in a column. Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares described Rajoy's comments as "intolerable" and carrying "the poison of racism and xenophobia."

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It's a very serious matter to go around using skin colour to determine who can be a citizen and who cannot.

Albares assured his French counterpart that Rajoy's views do not represent the majority of Spaniards. He emphasized the seriousness of judging nationality based on skin color, especially before Spain's World Cup semi-final match against France. Rajoy, who led Spain from 2011 to 2018, wrote in the online publication El Debate that while France had a top-tier squad, it lacked "French players," seemingly alluding to the players' African and Afro-Caribbean heritage.

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France has a squad of the very highest calibre. Mind you, there are no French players in it.

The controversy erupted shortly after a scandal involving a racist rant by a Paraguayan senator against French star Kylian Mbappe. Rajoy's comments were met with widespread condemnation in France. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called the remarks "pathetic" and stated unequivocally, "France has no skin color. Any statement to the contrary is a sign of idiocy, racism, or both combined." The far-right National Rally party also criticized Rajoy, with spokesperson Julien Odoul labeling him "a racist."

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These comments are pathetic. Once and for all, France has no skin colour. Any statement to the contrary is a sign of idiocy, racism, or both combined.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also denounced Rajoy's words on X, calling them "shamefully xenophobic" and criticizing those who judge nationality by surname, birthplace, or skin color. Rajoy's People's Party spokesperson Borja Semper attempted to downplay the incident, suggesting the column was intended as sarcasm and lacked ill intent.

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Rajoy is a racist, it's as simple as that.