Rajoy and the France team: the debate over who is French

Rajoy says what many keep quiet: France without the French

Former prime minister Mariano Rajoy wrote in a column that the French national team has "a squad of the highest level. That said, without any Frenchmen." The remark, published in the middle of the World Cup, unleashed a political and media storm. It is not an isolated statement: it taps into a long-simmering debate about national identity and sport. The question is whether Rajoy meant to provoke or simply to say out loud what many people think.

What exactly Rajoy said about France

Rajoy's column analysed the semi-final match and praised the French team's play. "It also has a squad of the highest level. That said, without any Frenchmen," he wrote. The remark was interpreted as a reference to the players' ethnic origins. It is not the first time the former prime minister has used sport to send identity-driven messages. In the same text he also stated that "I don't like the reds," according to the Democracia Nacional party. The controversy was ready and waiting.

The political reaction: from defence to attack

The reactions were not long in coming. Vox's deputy leader Juan García-Gallardo backed Rajoy: "You are not French just because you have an ID card, score goals and pay a lot of taxes." For the far-right party, the remark validates its discourse on Spanish identity. At the other end, left-wing circles branded the comment racist. The row was fanned by tweets comparing the situation to Spain and immigration. Rajoy, who has always described himself as a moderate, was left in an uncomfortable position.

The economic backdrop: who pays for football?

Beyond identity, the debate touches on the economics of sport. The players of the French national team, most of them of African origin, generate millions in revenue for the federation and the clubs. According to figures cited in the forum, France sit top of the FIFA ranking and have won all their matches at this World Cup. Their market value exceeds €1 billion. The paradox is that a country that benefits economically from the diversity of its athletes sees its identity called into question by its own leaders.

How the debate evolved: from football to migration policy

As the days went by, the conversation drifted towards migration policy. Some messages argued that nationality should be based on ethnic origin, while others maintained it is a legal and civic concept. The controversy also dredged up Rajoy's past as interior minister, when a mass regularisation of immigrants took place. His critics accused him of inconsistency. The discussion became a barometer of social unease over immigration and national identity.

Conclusion: what Rajoy did not say

Rajoy did not clarify whether his comment was a joke, a provocation or a personal conviction. Nor did he retract it. His silence fuelled the controversy even further. Meanwhile, the French team kept advancing through the World Cup, oblivious to the political noise. The question remains in the air: can a country regard its own athletes as foreigners? Or is it that Rajoy, like others, still measures national belonging by the same old yardstick?