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Argentina apologizes to France in football slogan row

By AFP July 19, 2024 | 7:18 pm PT

Argentina apologizes to France in football slogan row

Lionel Messi (R) and Rodrigo De Paul in the match between Argentina and Canada in the semi-final of the Copa America at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, U.S. on July 9, 2024. Photo by Reuters

Buenos Aires apologized to France after Argentina’s vice president called the European country “colonial” and its people “hypocrites” in a row over alleged racist chants by Argentine footballers.

President Javier Milei’s office said Friday it sent a senior official to the French embassy to explain that Victoria Villarruel made her angry comments on social media in a personal capacity.

FIFA has announced an investigation into chants sung by Argentine players, including Chelsea, and 23-year-old Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez after winning the Copa America.

The chants were heard in a live video Fernandez posted on social media from the team bus after the Copa victory over Colombia in Miami on Sunday.

The song targets French striker Kylian Mbappé, among others, and contains racist and homophobic insults.

Fernandez has apologised, but Chelsea have launched internal disciplinary proceedings against him. The French Football Federation (FFF) has filed a complaint with FIFA.

On Wednesday, Villarruel expressed his support for Fernandez on X, saying: “No colonial country is going to intimidate us for a stadium song or for speaking truths they don’t want to admit. Enough with feigned indignation, hypocrites.”

The diplomatic incident occurred just days before Milei was due to travel to Paris to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

“Diplomatic relations with France are intact,” presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni said Friday.

Argentina’s undersecretary for sports, Julio Garro, was fired this week after saying captain Lionel Messi and the Argentine Football Association should apologize for the chants.

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