Enzo Fernandez and several other Argentine players are being heavily criticized for a racist chant directed at the French team on the team bus. Luckily, Lionel Messi was not on the bus.
As is known, after defeating Colombia in the final of Copa America 2024, Enzo Fernandez and some Argentine players sang a song mocking the French team on the bus. This video was broadcast live on Instagram, causing a very strong reaction.
Many fans wonder why Lionel Messi, as captain of the Argentina team, did not stop his teammates’ excessive behavior, making the story more complicated?
Lionel Messi absent from controversial Argentina players incident
The answer is that Messi was not on this bus. Specifically, according to ESPN, while the Argentine players boarded the bus to return to Buenos Aires, Messi stayed in Miami after the coronation ceremony.
Before that, Messi suffered an ankle injury and had to leave the field early in the Copa America final. After the coronation ceremony at Hard Rock Stadium, El Pulga had to stay behind to have his injury checked. Not to mention, he is also playing for Inter Miami so he did not return to Argentina to celebrate with his teammates.
According to Argentine media, Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister was also not on the bus. In addition, several other Albiceleste players were not involved.
However, some French newspapers believe that Lionel Messi, as captain of Argentina, still needs to apologize after the incident. For its part, the French Football Federation (FFF) has warned the Argentine Football Federation and affirmed that it will take legal action because it considers this an act of blatant racism.
Enzo Fernandez was the most heavily criticised as the midfielder was the one who streamed the live stream and also the most active in responding. Enzo was later forced to apologise after a backlash from some of Chelsea’s French players.
According to Sporting Equals, a sports racial equality organization, the Argentine players’ mocking chant was highly offensive, demeaning the French players and their origins while representing France.
