Argentina Faces Racism Allegations After Copa America Win

The Argentina national team, fresh off their 2024 Copa America victory, has found itself mired in controversy following a live video posted by Enzo Fernandez on Instagram. The video captures the team singing a derogatory song, sparking widespread backlash and accusations of racism.

Argentina players Angel di Maria, left, Lionel Messi, second from left, and Nicolas Otamendi, third from left, celebrate with the trophy after defeating Colombia in the Copa America final soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, July 15, 2024.

Demba Ba’s Criticism

Former Chelsea and Senegal forward Demba Ba was quick to criticize the Argentina national team. He took to his X account, writing, “Argentina, land of asylum for former Nazis on the run. From 1945, Peron hosted war criminals. And it surprises you…”

The Controversial Video

The turmoil began when Fernandez’s live video went viral on social media. In the video, Argentina players can be heard singing: “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.”

Reactions from the Football Community

The video has drawn ire from various corners of the football community. Fernandez’s Chelsea teammate, Wesley Fofana, labeled the video as “uninhibited racism” on his social media. The France Football Association (FFF) also weighed in, with President Philippe Diallo stating that they would file an official complaint with FIFA and the Argentina Football Association.

Argentina’s Response

Amid the backlash, Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul offered insight into the team’s perspective. He revealed that team captain Lionel Messi had advised against provoking others during their celebration.

“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.

De Paul further defended the team, stating, “They always find something against the winner. Whether it’s that we got help, or that we taunt others, or that it’s not such a good team, or that South America is less developed than Europe, we didn’t see any fuss about that when they say those things about us. All these things are said to discredit what we’ve achieved.”

Conclusion

The controversy surrounding Argentina’s victory highlights ongoing issues of racism and sensitivity in sports. As the world champions face mounting allegations, the football community continues to grapple with the broader implications of such incidents.