Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy found himself at the centre of a growing racism controversy after writing in a World Cup newspaper column that the French national team “does not have any French players.” The remarks, published in the online newspaper El Debate as Spain prepared for a semi-final showdown with France, drew rebukes from political leaders in both countries.
Rajoy, who served as Spain’s conservative prime minister from 2011 to 2018, appeared to be questioning the national identity of France’s multicultural squad — a line of commentary that has drawn condemnation in European football for years. The backlash was swift and bipartisan, underscoring how the beautiful game continues to be a flashpoint in Europe’s debates over race and identity.
