Argentina has sacked its deputy sports minister, Julio Garro, who called for Lionel Messi to apologize on behalf of the team for singing racist songs after their Copa America triumph.
Garro’s sacking was disclosed via a statement by the presidential team of Argentina’s far-right president, Javier Milei.
In an interview with Urbana Play, Garro stated, “I think Messi should come out and offer the appropriate apologies, as should the Argentine Football Federation president.
“The incident leaves Argentina looking bad as a country.”
The minister suggested that an apology would set a positive example.
A statement issued by President Milei’s team on X.com stressed the autonomy of the Argentine national team and citizens.
The statement says, “The Office of the President states that no government has the right to tell the Argentine national team, world champions and double Copa America champions, or any other citizen, what to comment, what to think and what to do.”
Milei’s official account posted the statement. Consequently, Garro was removed from his position as under-secretary of sport.
Argentina’s vice-president, Victoria Villarruel, also defended the players whose conduct has attracted global condemnation.
“No colonialist country is going to intimidate us for a song on the pitch or for telling the truths they don’t want to admit,” she posted on social media.
Villarruel emphasised Argentina’s sovereignty and condemned what she viewed as an attempt to impose external values on the nation.
Enzo Fernandez, a Chelsea player who joined his teammates to sing the racist songs has since apologized for his actions, acknowledging the offensive nature of the chant.
“The song included highly offensive language, and there is absolutely no excuse for these words,” Fernandez wrote. “I got caught up in the euphoria of our celebrations.”
The French Football Federation has filed a complaint legal complaint in response to the “racist and discriminatory remarks”.
The incident also prompted FIFA to launch an investigation, while Chelsea is conducting its own review.
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has publicly condemned Fernandez’s actions.
The controversy erupted following Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday night, July 14, securing their Copa America title.
In a video that has since gone viral, Argentine fans and players can be heard singing offensive chants that mock the African origins of black players within the French squad, including their captain, Kylian Mbappé.
The chants included vulgar and racist lyrics, such as “They play for France but come from Angola. Their mother is Nigerian, their father is Cambodian but on their passport: France.”
Additionally, the chants contained derogatory references to transgender individuals, specifically targeting Mbappé with comments about his rumoured relationship with transgender model Ines Rau.
Fernandez exacerbated the situation by posting a video of himself and his teammates singing the racist chants on the team bus after their victory.
The backlash on social media was immediate and intense, with many fans and public figures condemning the Argentine team for their behaviour.
Chelsea players Axel Disasi, Malo Gusto, and Wesley Fofana responded by unfollowing Fernandez on Instagram, distancing themselves from the offensive remarks.
