Spanish leader Pedro Sánchez told French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu and first lady Brigitte Macron on Tuesday he was embarrassed by a predecessor’s comments that their national football team had “no French players,” media reported.
Conservative former prime minister Mariano Rajoy triggered outrage in both countries on Sunday after penning an opinion article in which he made the remark.
READ MORE: Spain’s ex-PM in hot water over ‘xenophobic’ remark about French team
Spanish media published video footage in which Sánchez is seen speaking with Lecornu and Macron as he attended France’s national day parade in Paris — hours before Spain’s blockbuster World Cup semi-final with Les Bleus in Texas.
The Socialist put his hand on his chest and bowed his head in a seemingly apologetic gesture and can be heard saying in English: “I am so embarrassed.”
🔴En su llegada al desfile de la Fiesta Nacional de Francia, Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) se ha disculpado ante Sébastien Lecornu (@SebLecornu) y Brigitte Macron por el comentario de Rajoy sobre la selección francesa.
📲 Te contamos la última hora en Demócrata… pic.twitter.com/BzlIBQjG5U
— demócrata (@democrata_info) July 14, 2026
Lecornu and Macron appeared to console Sánchez with a conciliatory touch on the arm.
Media said Sánchez used the occasion to apologise for Rajoy’s remarks, which appeared to refer to French players with foreign ancestry.
READ ALSO: Is there any truth to the claim that France’s footballers are ‘not French’?
Sánchez joined the chorus of condemnation on Sunday, saying the comments were “xenophobic”, while the president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, said they carried an “intolerable undertone of racism”.
Spain stunned tournament favourites France 2-0 to reach the World Cup final on Tuesday, producing a tactical masterpiece to shatter Les Bleus’ dreams of winning the title for the third time.
