Lionel Messi issued a stern warning demanding that his Argentina teammates behave after their 1-0 win over Colombia on Sunday, but his request was ignored by the team.
As a result, La Albiceleste’s 16th Copa America triumph came under a dark cloud when several players were filmed taking part in a racist chant aimed at French players during their celebrations on the team bus. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who streamed the video on his social media, was at the centre of the backlash.
Amid the chaos, midfield maestro Rodrigo De Paul came out to praise Messi’s leadership. After the crowd noticed Messi’s absence from the team bus, the Atletico Madrid star shared how he has avoided such behavior in the past.
‘Leo didn’t let us sing songs for Brazil [in 2021] ‘On the pitch because he knows how everything works,’ De Paul told Clarin. ‘But in the hotel, in private, it’s a different story and he ends up at the top of the rankings.’
A video of them Copa America 2021 victory has resurfaced, showing the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner holding back his teammates as they chant ‘Brasileiro Brasileiro’. Messi can be seen pointing a finger at his teammates and saying ‘no’ before walking away.
Lionel Messi urged his teammates to behave accordingly ahead of Enzo Fernandez’s racist row
‘On the Colombian side they said that Messi and [Angel Di Maria] “They weren’t the same anymore and we wanted to go find them as soon as we won,” DePaul added.
Leo said to us, ‘Nobody’s going to bully anyone, now we’re going to party.’
Fernandez has since apologized after receiving a lot of criticism for the video, writing: “I would like to sincerely apologize for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the celebration of the national team.”
“The song contains very offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words,” Fernandez continued. “I am against discrimination in any form and I apologize for having been caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations.”
Rodrigo De Paul spoke about how Messi put a stop to the team’s inappropriate chants in the past
Fernandez streamed himself and his teammates singing a discriminatory song on the team bus
The video came after Argentina’s disappointing 1-0 win over Colombia in the Copa America final
“That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character. I am truly sorry.”
The discriminatory chant is said to target the French team and their African roots. The chant also includes the phrase ‘they like to sleep with trans people’ – believed to be a reference to rumoured Kylian Mbappe’s relationship with transgender model Ines Rau.
Argentine Vice Minister of Sports Julio Garro was fired days after the incident for suggesting Messi apologize for the team’s actions. Hours later, Argentina’s right-wing President Javier Milei fired Garro from his post.
The French Football Federation has also filed a complaint over the video, leading to an ongoing investigation by FIFA.
Minister Julio Garro was sacked after calling on Messi to apologise following Fernandez’s racist row
Fernandez is pictured here with his French teammates Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile
In addition, Fernandez’s club Chelsea are also investigating the situation, as players Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi and Malo Gusto have unfollowed the midfielder on social media.
“I think there is malice in it, they are trying to make it something it is not. It is very strange, like kicking someone when they are already on the ground,” De Paul added.
“Unfollowing him seems pointless to me. You can call him and say, ‘This is not okay, why don’t you post an apology?’ – and that would solve the problem.”