Argentina’s deputy sports minister sacked for telling Lionel Messi to apologise for teammates' racist chants
Argentina deputy sports minister Julio Garro has been fired for telling Lionel Messi to apologise for the controversial song about France’s national team.
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Argentina’s football players have been accused of using ‘racist and discriminatory language’ by the French Football Federation after a social media video went viral.
The clip was posted by Enzo Fernandez, who faces disciplinary proceedings at Chelsea, after he was called out by his own French club teammate Wesley Fofana.
The song, originally sung by Argentina fans, questions the heritage of France’s black and mixed-race players and is considered by some to be deeply offensive.
After the nation’s team were caught singing it, Garro called for World Cup winning captain Messi, considered by many the greatest footballer of all time, to say sorry.
Argentina’s right-wing president Javier Milei has now sacked Garro just hours after he made the comment on an Argentine radio station called Urbana Play.
A statement read: ‘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. That is why Julio Garro ceases to be the under-secretary of sport.’
Garro believes the incident made Argentina ‘look bad as a country’ after their Copa America triumph, with many criticising the team for their celebrations.
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‘I think [Messi] should come out and offer the appropriate apologies, as should the Argentine Football Federation president [Claudio Tapia],’ Garro told Urbana Play.
Meanwhile, Argentina and Chelsea star Fernandez has openly apologised for posting the video and what was said in it.
‘I want to apologise sincerely for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations,’ the midfielder said.
‘The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words.
‘I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologise for getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations. That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character. I am truly sorry.’
