Lamine Yamal responds to Rajoy: "Football, if it serves for anything, is to integrate"
The star of the Spanish combined team has responded to the racist words of the former president of the Spanish government about the players from France
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 semifinals.
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 every Spanish match in The Debate, has caused a strong controversy in both Spain and France, where even Emmanuel Macron's government has had its say.
“Football, if it serves any purpose, is for integrating”
Reactions have also come from footballers. The latest to have his say has been Lamine Yamal, who in the press conference prior to the World Cup semi-final 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 is room for that."
Immediately after, however, the star of the Spanish team has vindicated the integrating role of football. "If it serves for anything, it is to integrate society, and there is no better example than France and us. We are an example of integration," he stated. "Football in the end is this, and not talking about what someone else might have said," he concluded.
The Catalan footballer, son of a Moroccan father and an Equatoguinean mother, has already 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 semifinal, 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 shouldn’t expect anything from me, but I’m sure the match will be special.” Despite the significance 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”.
Island: "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 already criticized Rajoy's words this Monday, receives the Consul General of France in Barcelona, Azar Agah-Ducrocq, at Palau this midday. 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.
Meanwhile, in Madrid, after the Spanish government launched a strong attack against the PP in the last 24 hours, this morning the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, has spoken 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 stressed that these words do not correspond to the position of the Spanish executive or the majority sentiment of the country and vindicated the "diverse selections" of France and Spain: "This is what it means to be a citizen, nowadays".
The former French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has also spoken out. "This article [by Rajoy] angered me and made me very sad", he stated in declarations to Catalunya Ràdio. "These are clearly racist words and what one would expect 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 concluded. Besides the Barça player, Iglesias, a forward for the national team, has also censured Rajoy's controversial comment.