MADRID — Comments from a former Spanish prime minister have reignited discussions about racism in Spanish soccer.
Mariano Rajoy, who led Spain from 2011 to 2018 for the conservative People’s Party, recently wrote a column for El Debate news site. In it, he referred to the French national soccer team as a “very high-level squad, of course, without Frenchmen” hinting at the African backgrounds of several players.
This remark has caused significant backlash in France ahead of the World Cup semifinal between Spain and France in Dallas.
On Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot responded by stating, “France has no skin color. Any contrary claim stems from stupidity, racism or a combination of the two.”
French politicians and the president of the French soccer federation, Philippe Diallo, also condemned Rajoy’s statement on social media, describing it as having “an intolerable whiff of racism.”
Julien Odoul, spokesperson for the far-right National Rally party, criticized Rajoy, calling his words “scandalous, shameful, and regrettable,” urging universal condemnation.
Spain’s socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sided with France, criticizing Rajoy’s views.
On social media, Sánchez remarked, “There are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin color. Spain belongs to those who love it and work for it. Not to those who shame it with xenophobic comments. France, we will see you in the semi-final. May the best team win and may racism lose.”
Rajoy’s comments have rekindled a long-standing issue in Spanish soccer, where racist abuse and issues of race and identity have persisted despite the country’s rise as a World Cup power. High-profile cases involving players like Samuel Eto’o and Vinícius Júnior have led to tougher penalties and greater public outcry, but the problem remains difficult to eliminate.
Back in 2004, Spanish fans made monkey noises at Black English players at a game in Real Madrid’s Bernabéu Stadium. Around that time, Spain’s then-coach Luis Aragonés was caught on a microphone making a derogatory comment about French star Thierry Henry.
In 2006, Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o refused to continue a match after enduring racist chants at Real Zaragoza’s La Romareda Stadium. The incident was a pivotal moment in addressing racism in Spanish soccer, although the €9,000 fine for Zaragoza was criticized as insufficient.
More recent incidents include a 2023 episode involving Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, who confronted Valencia fans over racist abuse. This drew significant international attention and support for Júnior.
Racist behavior by fans became more common in the 1990s as more international players joined Spanish soccer, coinciding with a surge in immigration from Africa and South America to Spain.
A 2024 study by the Funcas think tank highlighted discontent among radical fans over nonwhite players joining La Liga. One fan commented, “What is happening in football reflects what is happening, sooner or later, in broader society,” expressing concerns about losing national identity.
Despite efforts by Spanish authorities to curb radical fan groups since the early 2000s, many underlying attitudes persist.
However, the Vinícius Júnior incident indicates a more serious approach to racist abuse by Spain’s soccer institutions than in the past. Three Valencia fans received eight-month jail sentences, and four Atlético de Madrid fans were sentenced for hanging an effigy of Júnior before a game.
The case involving Rajoy has been surprising, given his reputation as moderate. Yet, his remarks align with some far-right views.
Marc Bassets, a political commentator for El País, cautioned that opinions like Rajoy’s are often tolerated or minimized. He pointed out the broader political climate, including the far-right Vox party’s introduction of a “national priority” policy, as problematic.
Bassets noted, “In times of ‘national priority’, the white noise of casual racism that can be seen in society risks becoming even more casual.”
At a press conference Monday, Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal criticized Rajoy’s comments.
Yamal stated, “If football has a purpose, it is to unite society, and there is no better example [of that] than us and France,” highlighting the integration within both national teams.
