Political Outrage Sparked Ahead of World Cup Semi Final
The controversy erupted just before the high-stakes World Cup semi-final clash between France and Spain, following a series of racially charged remarks targeting Les Bleus. Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy caused widespread outrage by claiming that the top-ranked French squad achieved its footballing success 'without Frenchmen' in their roster.
Data shows that 23 out of the 26 selected French squad players were born in France, while the remaining three hold full citizenship. This statistical reality directly contradicts Rajoy's provocative claims, which came shortly after Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla similarly targeted French captain Kylian Mbappe with offensive remarks on social media.
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Writing in El Pais, Lamia El Aaraje strongly condemned the rhetoric, stating, "The logic of Mr. Rajoy also disqualifies La Roja. What does he make of Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, or Robin Le Normand? If the French team is not French, then the Spain that lifted Euro 2024 is not Spanish."
The political backlash highlights the broader societal tensions overshadowing this major tournament, where both multi-ethnic squads represent modern European football. El Aaraje emphasized that both nations face the same ideological battles, noting that nationalist critics from both sides refuse to accept the diverse identity of successful modern sports teams.