Before the semi-final between Spain and France (Tuesday, 21:00 CEST, live on ZDF, audio stream on Sportschau.de) at the World Cup, former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy caused outrage in both countries.
In a guest article for the online publication El Debate, Rajoy wrote that France has “personnel of the highest level. However, without the French.” The article was already available on Saturday, and by Sunday numerous politicians had reacted to the statements of Rajoy, who was the head of government of Spain from 2011 to 2018 for the conservative People’s Party (PP).
“There are people who still measure belonging by last name, place of birth or skin color. Others measure it by attachment to the country and the desire to contribute to it,” Rajoy’s successor, Pedro Sánchez, wrote on the website “And Racism Lost” on Sunday.
Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain
Statements ahead of the World Cup semi-final between France and Spain
The French government also responded to Rajoy’s contribution. Aurora Berger, the anti-discrimination commissioner, complained of “repeated racist violations.” Naima Muchu, the Overseas Affairs Minister, said: “These are not ‘gaffes’.” This is a systematic and banal hatred of France and what it represents.” She called on the French Football Association to take legal action.
After France’s win over Paraguay in the round of 16, Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla made racist comments on social media and particularly targeted attacking star Kylian Mbappe. “He pretended to be French,” she wrote, among other things. Mbappe reacted immediately and condemned Amarilla’s statements, and French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke out.
The French Embassy in Madrid responded to Rajoy’s words
The French Embassy in Madrid also responded to Rajoy’s guest article. “All players in the French national team are French,” the statement said: “Of the 26 players, 23 were born in France. Three born abroad are also French.”
