Lamine Yamal responds to Rajoy: "Football, if it serves for anything, is to integrate"

BarcelonaMariano Rajoy's racist comment about the French team continues to generate reactions. After the criticism that has come from France and the condemnation from Pedro Sánchez's government, it is now Lamine Yamal's turn. "Football, if it serves any purpose, is to integrate society," he stated, following the indignation that has been awakened the chronicle that the former Spanish president published after Spain's victory against Belgium, which qualified Luis de la Fuente's team for the World Cup semi-finals.

In the text, Rajoy referred to the French team, Spain's rival in the semifinals: “It also has a very high-level squad. However, without French players”. The article, published as he does after each of Spain's matches in The Debate, has caused a strong controversy both in Spain and in France, where even the government of Emmanuel Macron has had its say.

“Football, if it serves any purpose, is to integrate”

Reactions have also come from footballers. The latest to weigh in has been Lamine Yamal, who in the press conference prior to the World Cup semifinal between Spain and France, which takes place this Tuesday in Dallas, said: "We will play one of the most beautiful matches that can be played in a World Cup and I don't think there will be room for that."

Immediately after, however, the star of the Spanish team defended the integrating role of football. "If it serves any purpose, it is to integrate society, and there is no better example than France and us. We are an example of integration," he stated. "Football is ultimately about this, not about talking about what another person might have said," he concluded.

The Catalan footballer, son of a Moroccan father and an Equatoguinean mother, has positioned himself on other occasions against racism. This Monday, coinciding with his 19th birthday, he has avoided prolonging the controversy and has focused his attention on the semi-final, which he has defined as “the most important match” of his career and which could qualify Spain for a World Cup final for the first time since South Africa 2010.

He has also responded to those who consider that he is not showing his best version: “They say I'm not at my best level, so you don't have to expect anything from me, but I'm sure the match will be special.” Despite the importance of the duel, he assures that he faces it without pressure: “I give my all and, when you give your all for the group, you don't feel the pressure.”

Illa: "Well said and well played"

The words of Lamine Yamal have been applauded by the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa. "Well said and well played. Good luck tonight!", he wrote in a message on X. The head of the Government, who on Monday already criticized Rajoy's words, received at Palau this midday the Consul General of France in Barcelona, Azar Agah-Ducrocq. A meeting that the president himself requested due to the context of the controversy and on the occasion of the French national holiday, which is celebrated this Tuesday. "May the best win and racism lose", she limited herself to saying after the meeting.

From the Government, on the contrary, the spokesperson, Sílvia Paneque, has described Rajoy's words as a "tremendous error" and has made it clear that, "moreover, they are false: all the players of the French team are French," she wanted to emphasize. In her opinion, this type of comment "marks the involution that the PP is experiencing in some aspects, linked to cohesion and people's rights, whoever they come from and whatever their skin color." "I join Lamine Yamal's reflections," she concluded.

Meanwhile, in Madrid, after the Spanish government vehemently attacked the PP in the last 24 hours, this morning the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, spoke again. In statements to the SER, from where he described the ex-president's racist comment as a "mix of stupidity and hatred," he explained that he has conveyed to the French executive, at various levels, his disagreement with the former popular leader's words. Albares emphasized that these words do not correspond to the position of the Spanish executive or the majority sentiment of the country and has defended the "diverse teams" of France and Spain: "This is what it means to be a citizen, nowadays."

Former French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has also spoken out. "This article [by Rajoy] made me angry and I was very sad," he stated in statements to Catalunya Ràdio. "These are clearly racist words and what could be expected are apologies and not trying to hold one's ground," he said, inviting the former Spanish president to "reflect." "The words of Lamine Yamal and Borja Iglesias say it all," he sentenced. Besides the Barça player, Iglesias, a forward for the national team, has also censured Rajoy's controversial comment.