MY KOLKATA EDUGRAPH
ADVERTISEMENT
regular-article-logo Sunday, 08 September 2024

Copa America: Former France captain criticises Argentina for their racist chants about France

A video posted by Argentina international Enzo Fernandez on Instagram after his team beat Colombia 1-0 in Sunday's final, featured a song sung by some members of the Argentina squad about France's players of African descent

Our Bureau, Reuters Los Angeles Published 20.07.24, 10:14 AM
France’s Hugo Lloris celebrates with the trophy after winning the 2018 World Cup.

France’s Hugo Lloris celebrates with the trophy after winning the 2018 World Cup. File photo

Argentinian players cannot use the euphoria of their Copa America win as an excuse for their racist chants about the French team, former France captain Hugo Lloris said, adding the song was an "attack on French people."

A video posted by Argentina international Enzo Fernandez on Instagram after his team beat Colombia 1-0 in Sunday's final, featured a song sung by some members of the Argentina squad about France's players of African descent.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fifa is investigating the video after the French Football Federation (FFF) said it was "racist and discriminatory". Chelsea, the English Premier League club Fernandez plays for, have also started an internal disciplinary procedure over the matter.

Fernandez later apologised for the video saying he got caught up in the euphoria of celebrations and the song does not reflect his beliefs or character as he stands against discrimination.

"It doesn't matter if you are in a moment of euphoria because you have won an important trophy," Lloris told BBC on Thursday. "It demands even more responsibility when you are a winner."

"We all stand against discrimination and racism. I just think and hope it is a mistake. We all make mistakes sometimes and hopefully they will learn from it."

Argentina's vice-president Victoria Villarruel defended Fernandez and the team and the country's undersecretary for sports, Julio Garro, was removed from his position for suggesting that captain Lionel Messi apologise for the chants.

Lloris, who is France's most capped player and their 2018 World Cup-winning captain, said Argentina deserved credit for what they have achieved in the sport in the last few years having become "the face of football in the world".

"You (Argentinian players) are an example for others, especially the kids. It was a proper attack on the French people, especially for the French people who have some African origin and family," he said.

Fernandez's teammate, Rodrigo De Paul, said captain Lionel Messi had told his teammates not to taunt the opposition after Sunday's final.

“When the final ended, Messi came and the first thing he said was, ‘nobody taunts anyone, let’s celebrate and enjoy our victory’,” De Paul told OLGA.

Follow us on:
ADVERTISEMENT