According to midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, captain Lionel Messi warned the Argentine players, but they still sang the “racist” song about the French team in his absence.
Messi has repeatedly stopped Argentina players from singing songs mocking their opponents. After the 2021 Copa America final, when De Paul himself tried to sing a song mocking the Brazilian team, the captain pushed the midfielder and shook his index finger to stop him. At the 2022 World Cup, when celebrating a goal against Mexico, midfielder Enzo Fernandez also tried to kiss the Argentine symbol and provoke the opponent, but was pushed away by Messi.
“After Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 in the Copa America 2024 final on the evening of July 14, Messi continued to say that the team must not mock any opponent,” De Paul told OLGA channel . “He wanted us to just celebrate and enjoy our victory.”
On the night of July 14 and early morning of July 15, Messi returned home to Florida to prepare to join Inter Miami and treat his ankle ligament injury. The other players, including De Paul and Fernandez, boarded a bus to the airport to return to Buenos Aires to celebrate with the Argentines. On the bus, Fernandez recorded himself and his teammates singing lines like: “They play for France but they are from Angola. They have Nigerian mothers, Cameroonian fathers, but their passports are French.”
In addition to Fernandez, there are several other voices singing along, but no source has confirmed that it is De Paul or any other player. The video has gone viral on social media, leading to the 23-year-old midfielder being investigated by FIFA and Chelsea for racism.
Messi ‘s responsibility for this is also a controversial topic in Argentina. Deputy Sports Minister Julio Garro told radio station Urbana Play that “Messi needs to speak up and apologize on behalf of his teammates, because this has put Argentina in a bad situation.”
Despite his correction and claiming that it was just his personal opinion, Mr. Garro was still dismissed less than a day later. President Javier Milei and Vice President Victoria Villarruel both said that Fernandez did nothing wrong, was just speaking the truth, and that Messi “does not need to apologize to the French people.”
De Paul shares this view, even criticizing three French players at Chelsea who have unfollowed Fernandez on social media, including Axel Disasi, Wesley Fofana and Malo Gusto. “Players who feel offended by Fernandez can call him and talk to him privately,” the 30-year-old midfielder said. “I think they are malicious, they want to make a big deal out of this when there is no problem. It’s like stepping on someone who has fallen. Unfollowing Fernandez makes no sense.”
Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who was not on the bus, also said Europeans were “more sensitive about this issue”. “Argentina is not a racist country, and Fernandez meant no harm,” the Liverpool player added.
Fernandez has apologized on social media, while Messi has remained silent. Meanwhile, former France captain Hugo Lloris said the song was offensive to French people, especially those of African descent.
