Mariano Rajoy

Mariano Rajoy, a former Spanish prime minister, refuses to retract a racist remark about a French football team. The incident occurred during his visit to the Elysée Palace in Paris in 2017.

Mariano Rajoy, a former Spanish prime minister, faced backlash for remarks about the French soccer team's 'African heritage' players, sparking condemnation from French officials and reigniting debates about racism in Spanish soccer. The controversy highlights ongoing issues in Spanish football, including past incidents involving players like Samuel Eto'o and Vinícius Júnior, and broader societal tensions around race and identity.

Former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is facing criticism for remarks about France's national football squad having 'no French players.' Current Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and others in Spain and France have condemned the comments.

Former Spanish conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy is accused of racism after stating the French national team 'does not have any French players.' Political leaders in both Spain and France have rebuked him for the remarks.

Spain's ex-PM Mariano Rajoy faced criticism in Spain and France for a remark about the French national football team having 'no French players,' described as xenophobic. The statement drew backlash from both countries.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned remarks by ex-prime minister Mariano Rajoy who claimed France's national football team has 'no French players'. Sanchez labeled the comment 'xenophobic', and French politicians also criticized Rajoy.

Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy made racist remarks about the French men's football team, describing it as 'without Frenchmen' due to players' African origins, sparking backlash from French and Spanish left-wing parties. French communist leader Fabien Roussel and centrist MP Pierre-Alexandre Anglade condemned Rajoy's comments as racist insults. Similar racist statements about the French team were previously made by an Argentine deputy governor and a Paraguayan senator, including slurs against Kylian Mbappé.

President Claudia Sheinbaum expects to meet with King Felipe VI of Spain during his visit to Mexico for a World Cup match on June 26. Discussions with the Spanish government are ongoing to finalize details, with an announcement likely by Thursday. The meeting aims to strengthen bilateral ties following past tensions and King Felipe’s acknowledgment of historical abuses during the Spanish Conquest.