It was a huge mess in Argentina: he asked the team to apologize and the Government fired him

The Argentine Undersecretary of Sports, Julio Garrowas fired this Wednesday, after declaring that the Albiceleste should apologize for the racist and homophobic chants against the choice of France during the celebration for the conquest of the Copa América in Colombia.

“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 Two-time Champion of America, or to any citizen. Because of this, Julio Garro ceases to be Undersecretary of Sports of the Nation,” the Office of the President reported in a statement posted on its X account.

The number two of the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Sports, led by Daniel Scioli, questioned the chants of the team in an interview. “I think the captain of the national team (Lionel Messi) should come out and apologize, as should the president of the AFA (Claudio Tapia). This is something that leaves us in ruins as a country after of much glory,” Garro declared on the station ‘Urban Play’.

However, a few hours after his statements, the former mayor of La Plata (province of Buenos Aires) declared on his X account that his words were not against Messi, captain of the national team of Argentina since 2011.” I categorically deny that he asked Messi to apologize. It is a disrespect to those who permanently honor us with their human and sporting qualities,” he wrote.

Strong tweet from Vice President Villarruel

Argentina’s vice president Victoria Villarruel later defended Enzo Fernández, the soccer player in the spotlight, at X and called the European country “colonialist” and “hypocrite” for showing its anger.

“No colonialist country will fear us for a court song or for telling the truths they don’t want to admit. Enough with the imitation of anger, hypocrites. Enzo, I support you, Messi, thank you for everything! Always with Argentinians are high-minded! Long live Argentinity!”, declared the La Libertad Avanza (far right) politician on his X profile.

The controversy revolved around a live stream on the Chelsea midfielder’s Instagram profile, where a song sung by several team members was heard mocking the African origins of some French footballers, with striker Kylian Mbappé being called they also “puto” (a derogatory term for “homosexual”).

Due to the magnitude that the video gained, the former River Plate player apologized for an attitude for which “there is absolutely no reason.” Also, the French Football Federation (FFF) will file a complaint for “racial and discriminatory insults” after complaining to the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) about the video in which Argentine footballers are mocked the French.