Here’s the latest update from the ongoing FIFA World Cup as of 2026-07-13 10:21:00.
Spain defender Pau Cubarsí has urged for greater tolerance after former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy questioned the nationality of players on the French national team, claiming they “don’t have any French players.”
Rajoy made these remarks in a column for the Spanish newspaper El Debate, coinciding with the buildup to the crucial World Cup semifinal between Spain and France on Tuesday.
In response to Rajoy’s comments during an interview with Catalan radio station RAC1, Cubarsí asserted, “If they play for the French national team then at the end of the day they are French, regardless of the color of their skin, because ultimately we have to be tolerant with everyone.”
He further elaborated, emphasizing that “the color of their skin doesn’t matter because we are all people and we all deserve respect.”
Rajoy’s statements have faced backlash from various Spanish political figures. Óscar Puente, Spain’s Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, labeled Rajoy a “dim-witted, post-Francoist crook.”
The French embassy in Madrid responded to the controversy, stating, “Without wanting to get into a controversy, it is worth recalling the facts: All players on the French national team are French. Of the 26 players, 23 were born in France. The three who were born abroad are French as well.”
French government ministers have condemned Rajoy’s remarks as racist. Olivier Faure, leader of France’s Socialist Party, stressed, “The French team consists only of French people. France is not an ethnic nation; it has no skin color or religion. It is a political nation united around the republican motto.”
Naïma Moutchou, France’s Minister of the Overseas, has called on the French Football Federation to take legal action against Rajoy. She noted, “With every victory for Les Bleus, the same obsessions and racist insults resurface.”
These comments emerge amid heightened tensions, especially after Kylian Mbappé denounced racist remarks directed at him by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla, calling her a “despicable woman unworthy of her office.”
FAQs
What did Pau Cubarsí say about Rajoy’s comments?
Cubarsí emphasized the need for tolerance, stating all players representing France should be considered French, regardless of their skin color.
How did political figures react to Rajoy’s statements?
Political leaders in Spain and France criticized Rajoy, labeling his comments as racist and calling for respect and understanding for all nationalities.
Key Facts
- Category:
- Source: www.espn.com – SOCCER
- Published: 2026-07-13 10:21:00
Read more on the FIFA World Cup 2026 right here as the tournament continues.
Tags: #Pau #Cubarsí #calls #tolerance #Spains #exPM #questions #nationality #France #players
Tags: #Pau #Cubarsí #calls #tolerance #Spains #exPM #questions #nationality #France #players
