Racist controversy between Argentina and France escalates into politics: an official fired for involving Messi

Racist chants by Argentina’s national team players against France after winning the 2024 Copa América have escalated to the top of politics in the South American country. To such an extent that the Office of the President, Javier Milei, fired the Undersecretary of Sports, Julio Garro, for criticizing Lionel Messi.

Garro had urged the captain of the Argentine national team to apologize for the racist controversy against the French team that was recorded on video during the celebration. “Lionel Messi has to apologize. He has left us in a bad light as a country, after so much glory,” he said.

After this, the Government announced his dismissal and alleged interference in the statements of the now ex-official. “The Office of the President informs that no government can tell the Argentine National Team, World Champion and Two-time Champion of America, or any other citizen what to comment, what to think or what to do. For this reason, Julio Garro ceases to be the Undersecretary of Sports of the Nation,” they reported.

Argentine government supports players and calls France colonialists

Victoria Villarruel, Argentina’s current vice president, has come to the defence of Enzo Fernández. She described the chants against the French players as a “song from the pitch” and called France colonialist.

“Argentina is a sovereign and free country. We never had colonies or second-class citizens. We never imposed our way of life on anyone. But we will not tolerate them doing it to us either,” he wrote on social media.

Enzo Fernández and the racist chants

During the players’ celebration after winning 1-0 against Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Enzo Fernández started a live broadcast. In the middle of the celebrations, the players began to sing a song invented by Argentine fans at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

The piece of music refers to the fact that most of the French national team’s players are of African origin. It also mentions Kylian Mbappé’s alleged relationship with a trans model named Inés Rau.

The controversy escalated to FIFA and several French players, including many of Fernández’s teammates at Chelsea, publicly criticised the action and even unfollowed him on social media.

Keep reading:
· FIFA ranking update: Argentina remains in the lead, Venezuela climbs 17 places and Colombia enters the top 10
· Enzo Fernández apologized for the video of the celebrations in Argentina that generated criticism in France
· French Football Federation could file suit against AFA over racist chants