The Argentine government has apologised to France for comments by Vice President Victoria Villarroel, who described Paris as a “colony” and the French as “hypocrites” following controversy over an offensive song sung by Argentina’s national football team.
Karina Milei, secretary of the presidency and sister of President Javier Milei, went to the French embassy in Buenos Aires on Thursday “to clarify that the unfortunate comment made on social media was personal,” the spokesman revealed today at a presidential press conference, Manuel Adorni.
He stressed that “the government’s position is not to mix sports sentiments with diplomatic issues.”
Victoria Villarroel posted on social media on Wednesday a comment on a video clip that included songs sung by Argentina players after winning the Copa America on Sunday, which hinted at the African origins of French footballers, as well as an anti-trans comment about an alleged relationship with Kylian Mbappé.
“No colonial country will intimidate us with football chants or by telling truths it does not want to acknowledge. No more pretending to be indignant, Enzo. [Fernández]“I support you,” the vice president wrote.
The whole situation comes at a time when Argentine President Milei is expected to arrive in Paris, at the invitation of the French government, to attend the opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as the presidential spokesman confirmed that “diplomatic relations with France are sound.”
The French Football Federation on Tuesday condemned “in the strongest terms” the “offensive statements of a racist and discriminatory nature”, and revealed that it had filed a complaint with FIFA, the body that regulates world football, as well as with the FIFA Court.
In response, FIFA stressed that it “strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anyone, including players, fans and technical directors”, and said it was examining comments made by Argentine players during the celebrations after winning the Copa América (against Colombia, 1-0).
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera has described chants against French footballers heard in a video published on the profile of Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez (formerly Benfica) who plays for English club Chelsea as “pathetic”.
Given the scale of the backlash, Enzo Fernandez “sincerely” apologised on Tuesday via his Instagram account, but his club Chelsea has opened “disciplinary proceedings” against him.
In Argentina, the incident sent shock waves. The government dismissed the deputy secretary of state for sports, Julio Garro, after the official demanded an apology from Argentina captain Lionel Messi and the president of the Albiceleste federation.
The most recent football rivalry between France and Argentina was born at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when Les Bleus beat Argentina 4-3 in the round of 16, largely thanks to the high-level performances of Mbappé (now playing for Real Madrid), who scored two goals at the age of 19.
Tensions intensified after the South American team won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, defeating the Gaelic team in the final, on penalties, after a 3-3 draw.
Moreover, the music heard in the recent video taken on board the Argentine national team bus has been spread by some “Albiceleste” fans during the 2022 World Cup.
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