• Mariano Rajoy criticized for claiming France's national football team has "no French players."
• Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez condemns the remark as "xenophobic."
• French politicians and public figures also denounce Rajoy's statements.

Spain's former Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, has come under fire for stating that France's national football team has "no French players" in an opinion piece published on the Spanish online news site, El Debate. This comment coincides with Spain's preparation to face France in a highly anticipated World Cup semifinal on July 14, which has drawn reactions from both sides of the Pyrenees, according to Le Monde, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.

In response, current Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez labeled Rajoy's statement as "xenophobic," emphasizing that "Spain belongs to those who love it and work for it, not to those who shame it with xenophobic statements." He also criticized outdated measures of national belonging that focus on surname or skin color, according to Le Monde, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described Rajoy's remarks as "absolutely unacceptable," echoing the sentiments of various French politicians who have condemned the comments. Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel compared Rajoy’s statement to similar racist remarks made in the context of sporting events, calling it an example of "disgusting racism," according to Le Monde, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.

Adding to the backlash, France's minister for overseas territories, Naima Moutchou, remarked that Rajoy's comments reflect "systematic and widespread hatred of France." She highlighted that such racist sentiments re-emerge every time the French team, known as "Les Bleus," achieves success, asserting that "France has no skin color or religion," according to Le Monde, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.