The Argentine Undersecretary of Sports, Julio Garrowas fired this Wednesday, after declaring that the Albiceleste I should apologize for racist and homophobic chants against the national team France during the celebration for the conquest of the Copa América over Colombia.
“The President’s Office 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,” the President’s Office reported in a statement posted on its X account.
The number two of the Secretariat of Environment, Tourism and Sports, led by Daniel Scioli, questioned the chants of the national team during an interview. “I think that the captain of the national team (Lionel Messi) should come out and apologize, as should the president of the AFA (Claudio Tapia). It is something that leaves us in a bad position as a country after so much glory,” said Garro on the radio station ‘Urbana Play’.
However, hours after his statements, the former mayor of La Plata (Buenos Aires province) expressed on his X account that his words were not directed against Messi, captain of the Argentina national team since 2011. “I categorically deny that I have asked Messi to apologize. It would be a lack of respect to someone who permanently honors us with his human and sporting quality,” he wrote.
Strong tweet from Vice President Villarruel
Later, Argentina’s vice president, Victoria Villarruel, defended Enzo Fernández, the footballer who is in the spotlight, in X, and called the European country “colonialist” and “hypocritical” for showing its indignation.
“No colonialist country is going to intimidate us with a song from the stadium or for telling the truths that they don’t want to admit. Enough of pretending to be indignant, hypocrites. Enzo, I support you, Messi, thank you for everything! Argentines always with their heads held high! Long live Argentinity!” declared the politician from La Libertad Avanza (far-right) on her X profile.
The controversy revolves around a live video on the Chelsea midfielder’s Instagram profile, in which a song can be heard sung by several members of the team mocking the African origins of several French footballers, with striker Kylian Mbappé at the forefront, who was also called “puto” (a derogatory word for “homosexual”).
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Given the magnitude of the video, the former River Plate player apologized for an attitude for which “there is absolutely no excuse.” The French Football Federation (FFF) will also file a complaint for “racial and discriminatory insults” after complaining to the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) about the video in which Argentine footballers mock the French.
