ZURICH: FIFA said on Wednesday it is investigating a video circulating on social media that shows members of the Argentina national team singing about France’s players in a way that the French Football Federation (FFF) said was “racist and discriminatory”.

The FFF said on Monday it would file a complaint to the global football governing body over the video, in which Argentina players sing from the team bus about France striker Kylian Mbappe’s African descent.

The video was posted by Argentina forward Enzo Fernandez on Instagram amid the team’s celebrations following a 1-0 victory over Colombia in Miami to win the Copa America.

“FIFA is aware of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being looked into,” a FIFA spokesperson said in a statement. “FIFA strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anyone including players, fans and officials.”

Some players, including 23-year-old Fernandez, sing a chant dating back to the 2022 World Cup final in which Argentina beat France.

The song targets France’s star striker Mbappe among others and includes racist and homophobic insults.

Chelsea had earlier announced they had launched an internal disciplinary procedure against Fern­andez over the incident.

Fernandez has apologised and the club said in a statement it had launched an “internal disciplinary procedure”.

“Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable,” it added. “We acknowledge and appreciate our player’s public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate.”

Fernandez, who joined Chelsea from Benfica for a Premier League record fee of 105 million ($136.8 million) in 2023, said in his apology: “The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words. I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologise for getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations.”

Fernandez’s Chelsea club teammate Wesley Fof­ana earlier described the video as “uninhibited racism”.

Argentina’s Vice President Victoria Villarruel defended Fernandez and the team, however, saying she would not tolerate the actions of a “colonialist” country.

“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 X.

“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.”

Later on Wednesday, the Office of Argentina President Javier Milei said the country’s undersecretary for sports, Julio Garro, had been removed from his position for suggesting that Argentina captain Messi apologise for the chants.

“The Office of the President informs that no government can tell what to comment, what to think or what to do to the Argentine National Team, World Champion and twice champion of America, or to any other citizen,” the presidential office wrote in a post on X. “For this reason, Julio Garro ceases to be Undersecretary of Sports of the nation.”

Javier Mascherano, the coach of Argentina’s Olympic football team, said he felt the video had been “taken out of context” as he sprang to the defence of Fernandez.

“Argentines, if there’s one thing we’re not, it’s racists, far from that,” insisted the former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder. “I know Enzo, he’s a great guy. He doesn’t have any problems like that.

“Often, as part of a celebration, you can take part of a video and take it out of context. If there’s one thing we are as a country, it’s a totally inclusive country. People from all over the world live in Argentina and we treat them as they should be treated.”

Mbappe and other players of African descent on the France team were racially abused on social media after losing to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final, prompting a senior French cabinet minister to call on FIFA to investigate.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2024