The Deputy Minister of Sport of Argentina, Julio Garro, has been relieved of his duties after attempting to ask Leonel Messi, captain of the country’s men’s football team, to apologize.
Argentina won Copa America, but the world champions, while celebrating, sang racist comments that were directed at France.
The racist song was about players who play as nationals of a certain country while their origins are in Africa.
“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 Argentinian players were heard singing.
They even targeted Mbappe, mocking him for dating a transgender man.
That led to them being lashed over social networks, as there was no room for racism in football.
The French Football Federation even threatened legal action.
As a result, Deputy Minister of Sport, Julio Garro, went to the radio and called on the team captain, Messi, and the Argentinian Football Federation to apologise on behalf of the players.
“I think [Messi] should come out and offer the appropriate apologies, as should the Argentine Football Federation president [Claudio Tapia],” said Garro.
However, this statement immediately backfired, as the President of Argentina, Javier Milei, had to show Garro the way out.
“No government has the right to tell the Argentine national team, world champions and double Copa America champions, or any other citizen, what to say, what to think, and what to do. That is why Julio Garro ceases to be the undersecretary of sport,” said President Milei.
The racist comment about the Copa America Champions chant came from the social network account of Enzo Fernandez.
However, owing to a lot of criticism, Enzo later apologized
“I want to sincerely apologise for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations,” he said on social media.
Argentina are two consecutive winners of the Copa America and champions of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
In their recent title, they defeated Colombia 1-0 in extra time.
The match saw their star, Leonel Messi, removed in the 66th minute over a knee injury.
©Mimi Mefo Info
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