Former Spanish Prime Minister provoked a scandal with remarks about the French

Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy found himself at the center of a diplomatic scandal after comments about the French national football team provoked a sharp reaction from French and Spanish politicians. This was reported by the Politico newspaper on July 12.

"This is a very high-level team. Of course, without the French," Rajoy wrote in an article for the Spanish newspaper El Debate, hinting at the African origin of a number of players.

Rajoy's statement was condemned by representatives of the leftist parties of France and Spain. French Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel accused the politician of "blatant racism," and the head of the European Affairs committee of the French National Assembly, Pierre-Alexandre Anglade, called his words "a grave insult to the French team and the country."

The ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, in turn, said it was "shameful" for the former head of government to make such statements.

Rajoy headed the Spanish government from December 2011 to May 2018. His remarks were made on the eve of the World Cup match between the national teams of France and Spain, which will be held on July 14.

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Senator from Paraguay Celeste Amarilla on July 6 racially insulted the striker of the French national football team Kylian Mbappe after the defeat of the Paraguayan national team. Later, she also demanded an apology from the football player after their correspondence conflict, because in response he called her a despicable woman. At the same time, the Senate of Paraguay on July 9 condemned Amarilla's statement, and also expressed its absolute rejection of all forms of racism and discrimination.