[Saba Sports News] Spain beat France 2‑0 in the World Cup semi‑final to reach the final. After the match, former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Brey wrote in a column about the large number of players of immigrant descent within France’s squad and stated, “This French team is extremely good, yet there are no Frenchmen in it.”
Rajoy’s extreme remarks drew fierce backlash from France. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez criticized that Rajoy’s words were completely out of touch with French reality. France is a diverse country where everyone can thrive freely and find their place in society. Olivier Faure, leader of the French Socialist Party, argued that France is not an ethnically homogeneous nation with a single skin colour or religion. Moreover, the French Football Federation also pushed back against Rajoy’s comments. Its president Philippe Diallo said Rajoy’s statements about the French national team contained unacceptable racist undertones.
In my opinion, Rajoy’s claim that there are no true French players in France’s squad amounts to xenophobic commentary rooted in bloodline and skin‑colour prejudice and borders on racism. His words have been firmly rejected by officials from both Spain and France, and he issued an apology afterwards.