Messi should apologize for racist chants by Argentine players

MIonel Messi was asked on Wednesday to apologise for the racist chants of his Argentine players after their Copa América victory.

An Argentine government official demanded an apology from Messi, his team’s captain, and the president of the Argentine Football Association, Claudio Tapia, after a video was shared on social media showing members of the victorious Argentine team singing a racist chant about French players of African descent.

Midfielder Enzo Fernandez said he was “sincerely sorry” for the incident, and his Premier League club Chelsea said they had taken disciplinary action, saying the discriminatory behavior was “completely unacceptable.”

It is not clear from the video whether Messi – considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time – took part in the chant, but Argentina’s sports undersecretary Julio Garro said he should apologize.

“The captain of the national team must also apologize for this incident. The same president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA),” Garro said in a radio address. “I think it is appropriate. It puts us in a bad position as a country, despite so much glory.”

Argentina defeated Colombia 1-0 in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday. A video posted afterward on Instagram showed Fernandez and the Argentine players singing chants about the French team as they celebrated.

The same chants – from some Argentine fans – were heard before the team defeated France in the 2022 World Cup final. The derogatory chants single out French players of African descent from several countries and with French passports.

FIFA also said it was investigating the incident after the French Football Federation announced it would file a complaint with the world football body over “racist and discriminatory statements”.

Chelsea’s reaction comes after one of Fernandez’s clubmates, French defender Wesley Fofana, posted the video on his social media accounts on Tuesday, describing it as “unbridled racism”.

Fofana has family ties to the Ivory Coast and is one of several black French players in Chelsea’s first-team squad.

“We pride ourselves on being a diverse, inclusive club where people of all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome,” Chelsea said in a statement on Wednesday. “We acknowledge and appreciate our player’s public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate.”

“The club has initiated internal disciplinary proceedings.”

Fernandez apologized for “being swept away by the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations.”

“This video, this moment, these words do not reflect my beliefs or my character,” he said on Instagram. “I am truly sorry.”

Fernandez became the most expensive player in British football history after joining Chelsea from Benfica for £106.7 million ($131.4 million) in 2023.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said football and its 211 national associations must adopt a zero-tolerance approach to racism and committed in May to reinstating a task force to monitor such incidents.

“FIFA is aware of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being investigated,” the governing body said on Wednesday. “FIFA strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anyone, including players, fans and officials.”

It is unclear what jurisdiction FIFA has over the incident on a team bus after a tournament, but the governing body could likely intervene if it considers the Argentine federation’s handling of the case unsatisfactory.

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Debora Rey contributed to this story from Buenos Aires