Argentine supporters’ racist chants unsettle the football world, and rightly, the French Football Federation has demanded decisive action from the world football governing body.
The French Football Federation has nailed “racist and discriminatory remarks” chanted by the Argentine National Team targeted at French players.
In today’s world, racist abuse and chants have been inherent and apparent in our day-to-day life with Argentine football.
Argentine’s National Team could not hold back their grief and distaste towards the black demographic dominating the French National Team.
To the displeasure of the French Football Federation (FFF), it has vowed to take legal precedence against the Argentine National Team over their shocking racist chant amidst their post-tournament jubilation following their victory at the just concluded Copa America, 2024.
Argentina won their 16th Copa America title on Sunday after defeating, in a very competitive and combative final match, fellow finalists, Colombia, 1-0, courtesy of a goal scored by Lautaro Martinez.
Howbeit, the post-match jubilation sparked an outrage after Argentina and Chelsea Midfielder, Enzo Fernandez, shared an Instagram Live video depicting him and his teammates making racist and abusive chants at the French national team.
Note that Enzo Fernandez is here at the centre of controversy.
Argentine Star
Photo Credit – Copa America
The chant is rooted in the African players’ dominance on the French national team.
The derogatory remark unsettled the football world at large, prompting reactions from various quarters demanding decisive action from the Football Governing Body be taken against the Argentine National Team.
Such punitive measures against the Argentine National Team will serve as a deterrence to the further recurrence of such an ignoble action.
According to the offensive chant: “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 chant went on the wrong side of The FFF and they have come out to lament the incident.
Photo Credit – FFF
The President of the FFF, Philippe Diallo, has expressed his anger and displeasure by saying:
“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.”
His outrage indicates that the motives of the Argentine National Team are to rouse and create bad blood between two peace-loving and footballing-loving nations.
Vividly looking into the racist chant sung after their Copa America triumph, it is in no sync with the mood expected of the lads.
It was meant to be a celebratory mood for them and the football lovers.
Diallo stressed further by challenging the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino and Argentine Football Association President, Claudio Fabian Tapia, to look into the shocking remarks, negating the values of sports and human rights.
Reports gathered from various sources indicate that France has already filed a legal complaint and hoping that the incident is favourably addressed to avoid bad blood or enmity between the two nations and the footballing world shortly
It is to be recalled that a similar chant was made during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was aimed at poking fun at the African roots of French players within the French National Team.
During this time, the Anti-racism association SOS Racisme nailed it and expressed its distaste by calling it “far-right ideology and implored the Football Governing Body to take decisive actions.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5643556/2024/07/17/argentina-chanting-football-silence/
How Others Are Reacting
Photo Credit – Chelsea FC
Chelsea FC reactions
Wesley Fofana, Defender and a teammate of Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea, became indignant and agitated by sharing the derogatory video with the caption,
“Football in 2024: uninhibited racism.”
His post and reaction were greeted with far worse racist remarks on social media, exhibiting a deteriorating state of racism in football and sports in general.
However, Chelsea Football Club has aired their concern and promised to look into the matter as Enzo Fernandez is nearing his return to pre-season training with the club.
It is reported that the atmosphere among the French players within the Chelsea squad is unfriendly and bitter.
It might lead to confrontation, enmity and disintegration among the players if not properly managed.
According to Fabrice Hawkins, “The team is very angry with Fernandez and his Argentine teammates.”
The reports and complaints of the incident have been fashioned to attract reactions from various Football Governing Bodies like FIFA, AFA and CONMEBOL but none of these bodies has publicly responded.
