The Argentina government on Thursday sacked its Undersecretary for Sports, Julio Garro, after he demanded an apology from national football team captain Lionel Messi for the racism chants controversy during the Copa America victory celebrations.
A video shared by Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez on his Instagram account came under widespread scrutiny after the 23-year-old and his Argentine teammates were heard singing racist and discriminatory chants, directed at players of African descent in the France team. A derogatory verse in the song was: “They play for France, but their parents are from Angola. Their mother is from Cameroon, while their father is from Nigeria. But their passport says French.”
The song also had derogatory references about France and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe’s connection with transgender model Ines Rau.
While it was unclear whether Messi was part of the controversial footage, Garro who was appointed in his role as Sports Undersecretary in March this year, demanded an apology from the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and AFA president Tapia.
Le football en 2024 : racisme décomplexé 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/MGkH5wPmNU
— Wesley Fofana (@Wesley_Fofana3) July 16, 2024
“The national team captain must also come out to apologize for this case. The same AFA (Argentina Football Association) president. I think it is appropriate. It leaves us as a country in a bad position, with so much glory,” Garro had said in radio statements.
Messi, who was injured during the final, has yet to issue a response.
Government fires Garro
Shortly after Garro’s statements were aired, Argentina President Javier Millei’s Office stated on X that: “No government can tell what to comment, what to think or what to do to the Argentine National Team, World Champion and Two-time American Champion, or to any other citizen. For this reason, Julio Garro ceases to be Undersecretary of Sports of the Nation.”
Garro soon apologized for his statement, saying that “offending anyone was never my intention, and that is why I have offered my resignation, although I will always be on the other side of discrimination in all its forms.”
La Oficina del Presidente informa que ningún gobierno puede decirle qué comentar, qué pensar o qué hacer a la Selección Argentina Campeona del Mundo y Bicampeona de América, ni a ningún otro ciudadano. Por esta razón, Julio Garro deja de ser Subsecretario de Deportes de la… pic.twitter.com/o4JRC7gGB1
— Oficina del Presidente (@OPRArgentina) July 17, 2024
In response to the controversial footagee, the France Football Association (FFF) also issued its statement with president Philippe Diallo challenging FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Argentina Football Association president, Claudio Fabian Tapia, to respond to the remarks in the footage. FFF also confirmed that it will file an official complaint over the video.
Fernandez, who made a record-breaking move to Chelsea from Benfica last year, was also criticised by his club teammate and France defender, Wesley Fofana, who labelled the video “uninhibited racism”. “We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome. We acknowledge and appreciate our player’s public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate. The Club has instigated an internal disciplinary procedure,” Chelsea stated on Wednesday.
The under-fire Fernandez soon issued an apology on his social media account, saying: “I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologise for getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations. That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character. I am truly sorry.”
