Former president Mariano Rajoy has triggered a diplomatic row with France by writing that the French team plays “without Frenchmen”. Both governments demand a retraction while the PP defends his words as sarcastic.
Mariano Rajoy published a column in El Debate describing the French team as a rival of “altísimo nivel” but “sin franceses”. The phrase has drawn unanimous condemnation in France, where ministers such as Jean-Noël Barrot stated that “Francia no tiene color de piel” and that any contrary claim is “una estupidez, racismo o una combinación de ambas cosas”.
Spain’s government, through minister José Manuel Albares, demanded that Alberto Núñez Feijóo disavow Rajoy and that he apologise. Albares called the words “inaceptables” and accused the PP of trying to “incendiar” relations with France.
PP spokesman Borja Sémper said the column was “sarcástica” and written “sin mala intención”. Rajoy replied that “no me voy a poner al nivel de ciertos miembros del Gobierno español”. The party also blocked ratification of the Friendship Treaty with France in the Senate last week.
The World Cup 2026 semifinal between Spain and France is scheduled for Tuesday at 21.00 in Dallas.
