Source: Africa Publicity
Former Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, is being sharply condemned for declaring that there are “no French players” in France’s World Cup squad.
Mr. Rajoy made the controversial remark in a column published by Spanish news outlet El Debate on July 10.
France are set to meet in today’s World Cup semi-final.
In his piece, Mr Rajoy praised France’s tournament performance, saying they have won every World Cup match so far.
He also praised France’s position at the top of Fifa’s world rankings.
According to him, “They also have an exceptionally strong squad… That said, one thing they don’t have is any French players.”
But his comments sparked anger from both French and Spanish officials.
Jean-Noel Barrot, France’s Foreign Minister, hit back on Monday in an interview with French broadcaster BFM TV, declaring that “France has no skin colour.”
Mr. Barrot added that “any contrary claim stems from stupidity, racism or a combination of the two.”
Current Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, also condemned Mr. Rajoy’s remarks.
Writing on social media on Sunday, Mr Sanchez did not directly name Mr. Rajoy, his predecessor but clearly referenced the controversy.
He wrote: “There are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin color.”
Mr. Sanchez “Others measure it by our roots in a country and our will to contribute to it. Playing football. Caring for our elders. Or opening businesses.”
He concluded his message by throwing a sporting challenge to France.
He said: “France, we’ll see you in the semifinals. May the best one win and may racism lose.”
On his part, Philippe Diallo, the president of the French Football Federation, issued a strongly worded rebuke on Sunday, July 12.
He wrote: “Mariano Rajoy’s remarks about the French team carry intolerable whiffs of racism.”
He added “They also raise questions about the deplorable climate that gives rise to such sentiments.”
Mr Diallo added: “Our players do not need a certificate of nationality from a former Spanish Prime Minister.”
The row comes just days after French striker Kylian Mbappe accused Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla of racism after she described him as “pretending hard to be French, resentful, newly rich, arrogant, and ugly” following her country’s defeat to the two-time World Champions.
Ms Amarilla said Mbappe was a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French”.
