Argentina players ignored Lionel Messi's demand as 'racism' storm takes new twist

Lionel Messi reminded his Argentina teammates to behave appropriately after their Copa America final triumph over Colombia last Sunday - but they didn't.

A video has sparked controversy, showing Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez and other Argentina players singing a chant directed at the French team, which has been labeled as racist and transphobic. The French Football Federation (FFF) and numerous others have condemned the Argentine players for their actions

The chant, which was sung by Argentina fans during the 2022 World Cup, includes derogatory remarks about the French national team and its players of African descent. It also contains the phrase "they like to sleep with trans people" - believed to be a reference to Kylian Mbappe's rumored relationship with transgender model Ines Rau.

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READ MORE: Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez apologizes for Argentina's 'highly offensive' France song

Fernandez shared the video on Instagram after Argentina's 1-0 win over Colombia, with Lautaro Martinez scoring the winner in extra time. His Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana criticized the post, reposting it with the caption: "Football in 2024: uninhibited racism."

In response to the backlash, Fernandez apologized, stating his opposition to prejudice and explaining that he got carried away in the excitement of the team's Copa America celebrations. Chelsea issued a statement condemning the incident and announced "internal disciplinary proceedings".

Argentina's midfield maestro Rodrigo De Paul has spilled the beans on Messi's unique style of captaincy, revealing that while the icon kept a lid on any provocations on the pitch, behind closed doors it was a whole different ball game. "Leo didn't let us sing songs to Brazil on the pitch because he knows how everything works. But in the hotel, in private, it's a different story and he gets on top of the table," De Paul said.

De Paul also jumped to the defense of Fernandez amid the social media storm, suggesting that those who have felt the sting of racism might understandably be hurt, but issues like these should be resolved internally rather than aired out online.

“I think there’s malice in this; they’re trying to make it something it’s not. It’s very strange, like kicking someone when they’re down," he said. "Unfollowing him seems pointless to me. You can call him and say, 'This isn’t okay, why don’t you post a message apologising?' - and the issue ends there."

In response to the escalating situation, the FFF is taking a stand by preparing to lodge a legal complaint, condemning the incident as "unacceptable, racist, and discriminatory". This move has ignited a wider debate on the prevalence of racism within the sport and the responsibility of players to foster an environment of inclusivity and respect.

Despite the uproar, it was noted that Messi wasn't present on the team bus when the offensive song was initiated.

Anti-discrimination group Kick it Out condemned the "discriminatory chant" as "unacceptable and clearly needs to stop", expressing solidarity with Fofana who highlighted the issue. "We stand with and show our full support to Wesley Fofana after he responded publicly and brought it to wider attention," Kick it Out added.