French politicians condemn Rajoy over France team jibe before 2026 World Cup semi-final | OneFootball

French politicians have condemned Rajoy after he characterised France’s squad in a way criticised as racist ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final against Spain. In El Debate, the former Spanish prime minister assessed Les Bleus as elite yet, he suggested, lacking French players.

Socialist leader Olivier Faure replied that the France team is entirely French and argued the country is a civic nation, not defined by ethnicity, skin colour or religion. Communist chief Fabien Roussel said a pattern of gross racism was on show, recalling remarks from a Paraguayan senator the day before.

Overseas minister Naïma Moutchou said the same obsessions and racist insults resurface after each French win, calling it methodical, normalised hatred of France, and urged the federation to consider legal action. Aurore Bergé, minister for tackling discrimination, criticised repeated racist lapses and said sport should be judged on talent alone.

Interior minister Laurent Nuñez said that, if the reported statement was accurate, it was absolutely unacceptable.

In Spain, transport minister Oscar Puente attacked Rajoy, while France’s embassy in Madrid underlined that every squad member is French, with 23 born in France and three born abroad also French. Prime minister Pedro Sanchez condemned xenophobic comments, said belonging is about attachment and contribution, and looked to the semi-final, hoping the best team wins and racism loses.

Source: Le Progres