The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Nöel Barrot, joined on Monday the criticisms made by the French government against the former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy for his article in which he said that the French national football team has “a very high level, that is true, without French players,” something he attributed to “stupidity” and “racism.”
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“Those statements are pathetic. Once and for all, France has no skin color. Any statement to the contrary is the result of stupidity, racism, or a combination of both,” said the French Foreign Minister in statements to BFMTV about the controversy created by the former Spanish leader.
Barrot attributed these statements to “stupidity, mediocrity, and racism” and on the other hand defended that the French football team represents “the best face” of the country. “I am glad that this team projects such a beautiful image of our country to the world. I am also glad to see all French women and men, regardless of their origin, skin color, place of residence, or age, united behind this team that makes them dream,” he said.
Regarding the reaction of the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, who censured Rajoy’s words as “xenophobic statements,” Barrot said that “he responded very well,” although he emphasized that “the best response” will be given by the French national team players “when they achieve victory” in the World Cup semifinal match, which takes place this Tuesday in the American city of Dallas.
Rajoy’s controversial comment provoked on Sunday a strong reaction from the French government, which declared these words “absolutely unacceptable.” In addition to the criticisms from the French Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, and the Minister for Overseas Territories, Naïma Moutchou, the French Embassy in Spain joined in, reminding that “of the 26 players, 23 were born in France,” while the Delegate Minister for Gender Equality and the Fight Against Discrimination of France, Aurore Bergé, stated that “repeated racist slips are unbearable” and expressed her pride in the French national team.
