French Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo has publicly denounced former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy for remarks about the France national team that “carry tones of intolerable racism”.
Writing in Spanish newspaper El Debate ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final between Spain and France, Rajoy questioned the national identity of Les Bleus players. “They are currently ranked No.1 in the FIFA rankings. They also have a top-level squad. That said, they don’t have any French players, and they are playing very well,” said the former PM, who held office between 2011 and 2018.
Diallo responded forcefully on social media. “Mariano Rajoy’s comments concerning the France national team carry tones of intolerable racism and raise questions about the detestable climate that gives rise to such foul odours,” he wrote. “Our players certainly don’t need to receive any nationality certificate from the Spanish Prime Minister. The France national team is the France national team.”
Pattern of abuse
The incident marks the second time this tournament that the French squad has faced explicitly racist remarks. Following France’s victory over Paraguay in the last-32 stage, Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla targeted star forward Kylian Mbappé, describing him as a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French”.
The FFF labelled Amarilla’s comments “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable”. French prosecutors have since launched a formal investigation into the remarks. Both the United Nations Human Rights office and the Paraguayan government have distanced themselves from the senator’s position, while Diallo previously described her comments as “criminal and reprehensible”.
Official reactions
Senior French politicians have joined the sporting authorities in condemning Rajoy’s column. Interior minister Laurent Nunez denounced the comments as “completely unacceptable”, rejecting the implication that France’s multi-ethnic squad lacks legitimacy.
France, currently ranked world number one, are preparing to face Spain in the semi-finals. The defending champions have faced recurring scrutiny about the diversity of their squad throughout the tournament, despite players representing the nation through birth or ancestry.