Key facts
- Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy questioned the origins of France's national team players.
- Rajoy's comments were published in his column for 'El Debate'.
- Lamine Yamal addressed the controversy ahead of Spain's World Cup semi-final against France.
- Yamal stated that football is a model of integration and should unite society.
- Yamal chose not to comment directly on Rajoy's specific statements.
Lamine Yamal, a player for the Spanish national team, has responded to controversial remarks made by former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy regarding the French national team's squad composition. Rajoy, in a column for 'El Debate', questioned the origins of several French players, suggesting they were not "French players" while acknowledging their high level.
During a press conference ahead of Spain's World Cup semi-final match against France, Yamal was asked about the row. He sidestepped direct commentary on Rajoy's specific statements but emphasized football's role as a unifying force and a model for integration, citing both the Spanish and French teams as examples. Yamal described the upcoming match as one of the most beautiful to play at a World Cup.