Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy waxed nostalgic about FNB stadium in Johannesburg, the site of Nelson Mandela's memorial service, remarking that it meant a lot because that's where Spain won the 2010 World Cup.
In the interview with RNE, he said the memorial service would only make the stadium more important now.
This soccer stadium where we're saying goodbye to Mandela, well is the stadium where Spain won the World Cup against Holland in soccer, no? Which makes it a very nice and emotional moment, and it's one of the most emblematic places in South Africa because of this and it will be more so in the future after today's act.
Many on Twitter were angered by what they viewed as a tone-deaf sentiment after the death of the respected figure.
Spain's Prime Minister upon being asked about Mandela's ceremony in South Africa: "Very emotional, also, because we won the World Cup here"
Santiago Villaronga
@SantiVillaronga
Spain's Prime Minister upon being asked about Mandela's ceremony in South Africa: "Very emotional, also, because we won the World Cup here"
I'm so ashamed of the spanish prime minister at the #Mandela funeral saying that there is where Spain won the world cup REALLY??
Vera Varela
@VeraVarela
I'm so ashamed of the spanish prime minister at the #Mandela funeral saying that there is where Spain won the world cup REALLY??
@PaulSilburn the Spanish Prime Minister reportedly just said that it is a very emotional moment for him as Spain won the WC in South Africa
adrian mediavilla
@adrimedia
@PaulSilburn the Spanish Prime Minister reportedly just said that it is a very emotional moment for him as Spain won the WC in South Africa
@adrimedia please tell me this is a joke.
Laura Sampedro
@laurasampedro
@adrimedia please tell me this is a joke.
He was also called an imbecile.
El presidente Mariano Rajoy es un imbຜil, por CafeAmbLlet. Nunca mejor dicho. http://t.co/ptczZz2ZPP
Lollipop'n'Roll
@LoliPopnRoll
El presidente Mariano Rajoy es un imbຜil, por CafeAmbLlet. Nunca mejor dicho. http://t.co/ptczZz2ZPP
World leaders joined Rajoy at the memorial service, including President Obama, Cuba's Raul Castro, Brazil's Dilma Rousseff, Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee.
Obama called Mandela the last great liberator of the 20th century. “Your dignity and hope found expression in his life, and your freedom, your democracy is his cherished legacy,” he said.
