The former sporting director of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Albert Luque, has sparked controversy with remarks marked by disdain and condescension toward Africa in an interview with Cadena Ser. Discussing the national team choices of Lamine Yamal and Brahim Diaz, he not only suggested that Morocco was an inferior option compared to Spain but also made a racially charged comment by comparing Italy to Kenya. When asked about Brahim Diaz's decision to represent Morocco—made official in March 2024 after the Africa Cup of Nations—Luque claimed that the Real Madrid player would regret his choice following Spain's Euro victory. «Did it hurt him? I think it hurt him most not to have won the Euro. It's not the same playing with Italy as with Kenya», he stated. This remark, which implicitly relegates Kenya and, by extension, African nations to the margins of global football, reflects a paternalistic mindset. Luque seems to forget that Morocco eliminated Spain in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup, marking a historic achievement that took the Atlas Lions to the semi-finals. Other African nations have also shaken European powerhouses in the past, from Cameroon in 1990 to Senegal in 2002. The underlying contempt in Luque's comments is part of a long-standing tradition of football arrogance, where some European nations continue to view Africa as a mere talent pool without recognizing its legitimacy as a competitive force. Yet, the recent performances of African teams and the dominance of African players in top European clubs prove that this colonialist perspective on football is outdated and misguided. Albert Luque, who is currently facing prosecution in a coercion case linked to the Rubiales scandal, could have chosen to remain discreet. Instead, he maintains a condescending stance that only underscores a glaring disconnect from the realities of modern football.
