French federation files complaint after 'racist and discriminatory remarks' by Argentina players
The French soccer federation has pledged to file a complaint with FIFA over “racist and discriminatory remarks” by Argentina players in post-match chants about France’s team after their Copa America title win
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
The French soccer federation pledged Tuesday to file a complaint with FIFA over “racist and discriminatory remarks” by Argentina players in post-match chants about France's team after their Copa America title win.
Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 on Sunday at Miami Gardens, Florida. A video posted on Instagram by Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who plays for Chelsea, and widely viewed on X showed Argentina players appearing to sing about French players with African heritage.
One of Fernandez’s Chelsea teammates, France defender Wesley Fofana, posted the Argentina team video on his social media accounts Tuesday and called it “uninhibited racism.”
Fofana, who has family ties to Ivory Coast, is among several French players who are Black in the Chelsea first-team squad.
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 soccer 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.
“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. ___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.