Argentina’s occasion after successful the 2024 Copa America has been minimize quick after the nationwide workforce has been underneath scanner for allegations of racism.
After a stay video on midfielder Enzo Fernandez’s Instagram of a derogatory music being sung within the workforce bus turned the topic of scrutiny, questions have been raised on the involvement, if any, of workforce captain Lionel Messi in all of this. The Argentine talisman isn’t seen within the video alongside a bunch of different gamers. Rodrigo De Paul, additionally a member of the Copa America successful squad, not too long ago mentioned that Messi had informed his teammates to not taunt the opposition after they received the ultimate on Sunday.
“When the ultimate ended, Messi got here and the very first thing he mentioned was, ‘no person taunts anybody, let’s have a good time and luxuriate in our victory’,” De Paul informed OLGA.
“They at all times discover one thing towards the winner. Whether or not it’s that we received assist, or that we taunt others, or that it’s not such a superb workforce, or that South America is much less developed than Europe, we didn’t see any fuss about that after they say these issues about us. All this stuff are mentioned to discredit what we’ve achieved,” he added.
Within the video doing rounds on social media, Argentina gamers could be heard singing: “They play for France, however their dad and mom are from Angola. Their mom is from Cameroon, whereas their father is from Nigeria. However their passport says French.”
It’s a video that has irked many within the soccer group, together with the France Soccer Affiliation (FFF), who’ve additionally issued its assertion with president Philippe Diallo difficult FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Argentina Soccer Affiliation president, Claudio Fabian Tapia, to reply to the remarks within the footage. FFF additionally confirmed that it’s going to file an official criticism over the video.
Fernandez’s clubmate at Chelsea and France footballer, Wesley Fofana additionally took to his social media to cite the Argentine’s video as “uninhibited racism.”
“I perceive that individuals who have suffered from racism won’t prefer it. However I feel if any of Enzo’s teammates really feel offended, the best way is to name him, not put up it on social media. I feel there’s malice on this; they’re attempting to make it one thing it’s not. It’s very unusual, like kicking somebody after they’re down,” De Paul mentioned.
Enzo Fernandez’s father, Raul additionally got here in defence of his son, “He’s not racist, by no means! It’s onerous for a European to grasp our soccer tradition like chants and celebrations. He recorded that stay video at an inopportune second. It was unhealthy, he didn’t even notice what he was singing,” he informed an area TV channel.
“In 2014, when Germany beat us, they imitated how gauchos stroll and referred to as us ignorant. In 2018, France mocked Messi for his top. We by no means got here out to say we have been being discriminated towards,” he added.