French President condemns racist song in Argentina

Argentina has come under fire again for celebrating after a big win. Emi Martinez, the team’s star goalkeeper, had previously come under fire for a series of strange actions after the 2022 World Cup. The goalkeeper received the Golden Glove award at the competition. The trophy is awarded to the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Martinez was seen on live television making a vulgar gesture with the trophy after the narrow victory over France in the final. After the incident, the goalkeeper called for a “minute’s silence” for French star Kylian Mbappé during the dressing room celebrations. He later held up a doll with a photo of Mbappé’s face on its head during the bus parade in Argentina’s homeland.

Argentina’s fans also attacked France during and after the 2022 World Cup final. The Albiceleste supporters created a highly controversial racist song aimed at the players of Les Bleus. Certain lines of the song refer to the African roots of the French players.

The general behaviour of the Argentines sparked a stern letter from the French Football Federation to its Argentine counterpart. However, this would not be the last time a complaint would come from France about Argentina’s celebrations.

France asks FIFA to fight racism and a song from Argentina

Argentina recently beat Colombia to win the 2024 Copa America title. After the big win, for some reason, La Albiceleste once again turned their attention to France. In a video posted on social media by Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, the Argentine players sang the aforementioned racist song together. The moment came after the game on the team bus.

The song includes lines such as: “You play for France, but you’re from Angola” and “Your mother is Nigerian, your father is Cambodian, but your passport says France.”

Fernandez eventually deleted the post from his social media account. Following the post, the French Football Federation filed another complaint on the matter.

“The President of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, strongly condemns the unacceptable racist and discriminatory comments against players of the French national team in connection with a song sung by players and fans of the Argentine team after their victory in the Copa America and circulated in a video on social networks,” the organization wrote in a statement.

“Given the seriousness of these shocking statements, which run counter to the values ​​of sport and human rights, the President of the FFF has decided to address himself directly to his Argentine counterpart and to FIFA and to file a complaint before the courts for racially offensive and discriminatory statements.”

Argentine players have a strange obsession with European rivals

Argentina’s obsession with France is undoubtedly strange. However, the racist song could also have been a reference to Colombia. Similar to the French national team, Colombia’s squad in the recent Copa America final featured several black players. These include Jhon Cordoba, Carlos Cuesta, Jefferson Lerma and Davinson Sanchez.

Fernandez, the Argentinian seen smiling while singing and filming the racist celebrations, will return to Chelsea in the next few weeks. Chelsea’s captain is Reece James, a black English defender.

La Albiceleste is currently led by global star Lionel Messi. The 37-year-old playmaker is one of the most popular professional athletes in the world. However, when you look at the overall line-up, Argentina is perhaps one of the most unlikable football teams in the world at the moment.

PHOTOS: IMAGO