In a scandal rocking the world of international football, the French Football Federation (FFF) has vowed to take legal action against Argentina’s national team following the emergence of a deeply offensive and racist chant by Argentine players after their recent Copa America victory.
Argentina clinched their 16th Copa America title on Sunday, defeating Colombia 1-0 in a tense final courtesy of a late goal by Lautaro Martinez. However, the post-match celebrations took a dark turn when Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez shared an Instagram Live video showing him and his teammates chanting derogatory remarks aimed at the French national team.
The chant referenced the African heritage of several French players, sparking immediate backlash. This shocking incident has also ignited a firestorm of controversy and condemnation, with calls for decisive action from football’s governing bodies.
The offensive chant went: “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 FFF strongly protested the incident
Philippe Diallo, president of the FFF, expressed his outrage in a strongly worded statement: “The president of the French Football Federation condemns in the strongest terms the unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks made against the players of the French team.”
The statement clarifies that the remarks were made “in the context of a song sung by players and supporters of the Argentina team after its victory in the Copa America and broadcast in a video on social media.”
Diallo has directly challenged FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Argentine Football Association President Claudio Fabian Tapia to address these “shocking remarks, contrary to the values of sport and human rights.” The FFF has also filed a legal complaint over the incident, underscoring the seriousness with which they are treating the matter.
This controversy echoes the racist sentiments some Argentina fans expressed during the 2022 World Cup, where chants mocked the African roots of French players. At the time, anti-racism association SOS Racisme criticized these chants as an “expression of a far-right ideology” and called on FIFA to take action.
Chelsea’s reactions
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, a teammate of Fernandez, was particularly vocal, sharing the disturbing video with the caption: “Football in 2024: uninhibited racism.” His post was met with further racist remarks on social media, illustrating the pervasive issue of racism in football.
Chelsea Football Club has expressed its concern and is investigating the incident, as Fernandez is expected to return for pre-season training soon. The atmosphere within the Chelsea squad, especially among French players, is reportedly tense and angry. Journalist Fabrice Hawkins noted that the team is “very angry” with Fernandez and his Argentine teammates.
The incident has prompted widespread calls for accountability and action from FIFA, the AFA, and CONMEBOL. However, as of now, these organizations have not publicly responded to the FFF’s demands.