The controversy surrounding the chants by Argentine national team players after winning the Copa America against France continues to escalate and has crossed the borders of football. These songs have been criticised in France and Argentina for their racist content against the French players. The main victim in Argentine politics has been Julio Garro, the Undersecretary of Sports, who has been dismissed from his post after having requested that Lionel Messi, the captain of the national team, apologize on behalf of the entire team.
“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 say, what to think or what to do. For this reason, Julio Garro is no longer the Undersecretary of Sports of the Nation,” the Government reported through the social network X.
The truth is that the controversy could open a new source of conflict in diplomatic relations with France, because minutes before that message it had been the very Victoria Villarruel, who accused the French of being “hypocrites,” “feigning indignation” and living in a “colonialist country.”
The problem began this Thursday when Garro was interviewed by María O’Donnell on Urbana Play about the controversy. “I think that the captain of the National Team should come out and apologize for this case, as should the president of the AFA. I think it is appropriate and I agree with you, it is something that leaves us as a country in a bad position with so much glory and it would be good to take this to something exemplary,” he said.
As usual, President Javier Milei himself anticipated his discomfort in X, when he shared a message from user @elpittttt who said: “We all know how much Javo loves and supports Messi even when he was totally criticized… Saying that Messi has to APOLOGIZE to some European colonizers for a song that also tells the truth, is going TOTALLY AGAINST Javo’s ideology. GARRO HAS TO BE OUT RIGHT NOW.”
Another voice critical of the dismissed official was the legislator and economic advisor to Milei, Ramiro Marra: “The two-time champion of America, world champion and best footballer in history does not have to ask for forgiveness from anyone. Let them continue crying over a simple football song.” The message was later deleted.
In response to these criticisms, Garro simply denied his own statements: “I categorically deny that I have asked Messi to apologize. “It would be disrespectful to someone who constantly honours us with his human and sporting qualities,” the Undersecretary of Sports said. However, the denial was not enough because within a few hours he had already lost his job.
Although the President’s Office stressed that “no government can tell the Argentine National Team what to say, what to think or what to do,” the truth is that the French government has not made any comments so far on the dispute with Fernández. The French Football Federation has raised the possibility of suing the Argentine National Team players for racist and homophobic chants during the celebration of the second Copa América championship.
The accusation came because Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández made a live broadcast on social media, in which he sang a song with homophobic and racist expressions along with his teammates. The Argentine midfielder cut off his live broadcast, but Fofana captured the exact moment where “the racist act” took place.
The celebration went viral on social media and the French Football Federation (FFF) issued a strong statement condemning the incident, announcing that disciplinary measures would be taken.
The midfielder of the National Team has already apologized on his social networks: “I want to sincerely apologize for a video posted on my Instagram during the celebrations of the National Team. The song includes very offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words. I oppose discrimination in all its forms and I apologize 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.”
Source: www.eldiario.es
