Pedro Sánchez rebukes Mariano Rajoy for 'shameful' and 'xenophobic' remarks about French team's national identity

A diplomatic row has erupted after former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy suggested that the French national football team is made up of players who are not really French. In a column published in El Debate, Rajoy wrote that the team has "a very high level. Obviously, without French people," a remark that immediately drew accusations of racism from both Paris and Madrid.

French government officials swiftly condemned the comment. According to cronicaglobal.elespanol.com, a spokesperson for President Emmanuel Macron called the statement "inaceptables" (unacceptable) and said it "alimenta el racismo" (fuels racism). The outlet also ran an opinion piece arguing that what Rajoy fails to see in the French squad is not nationality but skin color, stating bluntly: "For him, a black man cannot be French."

cronicaglobal.elespanol.comEl Gobierno de Macron ve "inaceptables" los comentarios de Rajoy sobre la selección francesa: "Alimenta el racismo"

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez fired back directly in a social media message. As reported by 20minutos.es, Sánchez wrote: "Spain belongs to those who love and work for it. Not to those who shame it with xenophobic statements. France, see you in the semifinals. May the best win and may racism lose."

20MINUTOS.ESSánchez critica con dureza a Rajoy tras sus declaraciones sobre la selección francesa: "Que gane el mejor y que pierda el racismo"

"España es de quien la ama y la trabaja. No de quien la avergüenza con declaraciones xenófobas."

Sánchez was responding to a column in which Rajoy, a former president of the Popular Party, made his controversial observation. As El Comercio noted, the current prime minister accused his predecessor of publishing "xenophobic statements" that bring shame on the country. Okdiario further reported that Sánchez accused Rajoy of "avergonzar a España" (shaming Spain).

2 sources

El ComercioPedro Sánchez critica las “declaraciones xenófobas” de Mariano Rajoy sobre la selección de fútbol de FranciaokdiarioSánchez acusa a Rajoy de «avergonzar a España con su xenofobia» por su comentario sobre la selección francesa

The incident comes amid broader tensions over race and national identity in football. Meanwhile, Infobae covered the story and noted that the remarks have been widely condemned, even as a separate case involving a Paraguayan senator who insulted Kylian Mbappé with racist language has drawn parallel criticism from French officials. Sánchez ended his message with a hope that the semifinal match would see "racism lose," a line that ties the sporting contest to a broader social struggle.

InfobaeSánchez dice que Rajoy "avergüenza" a España con su comentario sobre la selección francesa