Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has doubled down on his recent controversial remarks concerning the French national football team, refusing to offer an apology even after Spain secured their place in the World Cup final. In a fresh opinion piece published in 'El Debate' titled 'You need to keep your sense of humour', Rajoy revisited the row he ignited days earlier without softening his original position.
The article initially praises the efforts of coach Luis de la Fuente and the Spanish squad before transitioning into political commentary. Rajoy included a veiled critique of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, stating his hope that Spain wins, rather than the "best team" winning, a direct reference to a message Sánchez sent him after his initial column. Rajoy concluded his latest piece by stating, "You already know what I'm like and what I think. Long live Spain! We've won once again."
The controversy originated from a previous column published by Rajoy following Spain's quarter-final victory over Belgium. In that text, he described the French side as being of a "very high level" but added, "without French players." This phrasing sparked significant backlash, as it was widely interpreted as questioning the nationality of players like Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Lesley Ugochukwu, who are of African descent despite being born or naturalized in France. The French embassy clarified that 23 of the 26 players on the roster were born on French soil, while the Spanish government and various French ministers labeled Rajoy’s comments as xenophobic.
Government officials have been vocal in their criticism. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accused Rajoy of "bringing shame on Spain," while Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares informed his French counterpart that the remarks did not reflect the views of most Spaniards. Government spokesperson Elma Saiz also criticized the former leader for his failure to apologize. On Wednesday, Equality Minister Ana Redondo commented on the social network X, calling it a "joke" that a former prime minister who "does not know the reality of Spain" and "does not understand the values of sport" would write on the topic.
The debate has also touched the Spanish dressing room. Ahead of the semi-final, Lamine Yamal, who has a Moroccan father and an Equatoguinean mother, chose to avoid the political fray, instead framing football as a tool for social cohesion and citing Spain and France as examples of integration. The issue of player heritage is not unique to this instance; Ousmane Sonko, president of the Senegalese National Assembly, previously made similar comments regarding the French squad's composition prior to a match on 16 June.
Furthermore, the debate has expanded to Morocco. Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Moroccan Football Federation, recently spoke to the magazine 'Onze Mondial' regarding Lamine Yamal’s decision to play for Spain. While insisting the federation respects the player's choice, Lekjaa made a remark interpreted as a veiled reproach: "Lamine Jamel. I don't know any Spaniard called Jamel." This comment has further fueled the ongoing discussion regarding national identity, family roots, and the sense of belonging for footballers with dual heritage.
