France take action over 'racist' Argentina chants
The French Football Federation (FFF) is filing a legal complaint over “racist and discriminatory remarks” by Argentina players in postmatch chants about France‘s team after the Copa América final.
Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 on Sunday. A video posted on Instagram by Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández and widely viewed on X showed Argentina players appearing to sing about French players with African heritage.
The same chants — by some Argentina fans — emerged before France and Argentina met in the World Cup final two years ago, which Argentina won.
“Given the seriousness of these shocking remarks, which are contrary to the values of sport and human rights, the FFF president has decided to contact its Argentinian counterpart and FIFA directly to file a legal complaint for racist and discriminatory remarks,” the French federation said in a statement on Tuesday.
The derogatory chants single out France players of African heritage, from several countries, and holding a French passport.
Fernández’s Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana, a France international, shared the video on social media on Tuesday with the comment, “Football in 2024: Uninhibited racism.”
“The president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, condemns in the strongest terms the unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks made against the players of the France team as part of a song sung by players and supporters of the Argentina team,” the FFF added.
Diallo is a member of the executive committee of European soccer body UEFA with a growing reputation in the game’s politics.
FIFA could not immediately confirm Tuesday if the French complaint had been filed.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said soccer and its 211 national federations must have a zero tolerance approach to racism and in May committed to relaunching a task force to monitor incidents.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
