Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel has defended Enzo Fernandez after the racism row following the Copa America win. Fernandez was seen singing a racist song aimed at French players and their African roots.

Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel has jumped to the defence of Enzo Fernandez after the racism row following the team’s Copa America win. A video had started to circulate on social media showing Fernandez and some of his teammates singing a racist targeting French players with African roots. Fernandez would issue an apology after the video had gone viral for the offensive language in the song.

FIFA said that they would launch an investigation into the matter, with Chelsea also holding a separate look into the matter.

Wesley Fofana would also condemn the actions of his Chelsea teammate as well. Now, Villarruel has come out in support of the midfielder on social media.

The Argentina vice-president said that they wouldn’t be intimidated by a ‘colonalist country’ and claimed the South American nation is sovereign and free.

Villarruel offered her full support to Fernandez and told Argentinians to hold their heads up high.

“No colonialist country is going to intimidate us for a song on the pitch or for telling the truths they don’t want to admit,” Villarruel posted on her account on social media.

“Argentina is a sovereign and free country. We never had colonies or second-class citizens. We have never imposed our way of life on anyone.”

But neither will we tolerate that they do it to us … Enzo I support you, (Lionel) Messi, thanks for everything! Argentinians always hold your head up high.

What Fernandez said about the matter

Fernandez apologised for the song and said he was caught in the moment of the celebrations.

“The song included highly offensive language, and there is absolutely no excuse for these words,” Fernandez wrote. “I got caught up in the euphoria of our celebrations.”

Fernandez will now return to Chelsea and get ready for the pre-season.

SICK CHANT: Argentina chief SACKED after telling Lionel Messi to apologise for racist chants about France

French FA have threatened legal action over Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez’s chant

ARGENTINA’S deputy sports minister has been sacked after saying Lionel Messi should apologise for the Argentina squad singing a racist and transphobic chant aimed at France.

Julio Garro was sacked within hours after making the comment on an Argentinian radio station.

Captain Messi was not even on the bus where the shocking incident took place.

Garro told Urbana Play: “I think [Messi] should come out and offer the appropriate apologies, as should the Argentine Football Federation president [Claudio Tapia].”

He added that the incident “leaves Argentina looking bad as a country” and that it would be good to “make an example out of this”.

It came after Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez went live on Instagram while leading the vile chant.

For his suggestion that Messi should apologise on behalf of his national team as club captain, Garro was fired from his post by Argentina’s far-right president Javier Milei.

Milei’s official social media account stated: “The Office of the President states that no government has the right to tell the Argentine national team, world champions and double Copa America champions, or any other citizen, what to comment, what to think and what to do.

“That is why Julio Garro ceases to be the under-secretary of sport.”

Milei’s social media comment was followed up by Argentina’s vice-president Victoria Villarruel saying: “No colonialist country is going to intimidate us for a song on the pitch or for telling the truths they don’t want to admit.

Last updated on September 7th, 2024 at 05:58 am