Argentina’s Olympic campaign began on a rocky note as their national anthem was met with loud boos from the crowd before their opening match against Morocco on Wednesday.
Argentina Faces Boos and Controversy at Paris Olympics
Argentina’s Olympic campaign began under a cloud of controversy as the national team faced loud boos ahead of their football and rugby sevens matches. This reaction from the crowd comes in the wake of a scandal involving Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who is not part of the Olympic squad.
Fans Voice Displeasure Over Racist Chant
The jeers erupted just as Argentina’s national anthem played at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint Etienne. This incident follows the release of a video showing Fernandez and his Argentina teammates singing a chant targeting black players from France after their Copa America victory. The chant, which also mocked French star Kylian Mbappe, sparked outrage and led to the French Football Federation (FFF) filing a complaint with FIFA.
El himno de #Argentina, silbado por todo el estadio en Saint-Étienne. 😳🇦🇷🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/ZeXHYd0mA5
— El Crack Deportivo (@CrackDeportivo_) July 24, 2024
The Chant and Its Fallout
The offensive song drew widespread criticism, including from within Chelsea. Fernandez’s teammate Wesley Fofana labeled the chant “uninhibited racism” and, along with Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi, unfollowed Fernandez on Instagram. Despite Fernandez’s apology and Chelsea’s condemnation of the chant, the controversy continues to affect his reputation.
Fernandez’s Response and Upcoming Season
Fernandez has apologized for the video, insisting he is not racist. Chelsea launched an investigation into the incident, and despite Fernandez’s absence from the Olympic team, the controversy lingers. In Argentina, Fernandez was recently paraded at his former club River Plate, where the crowd chanted the same offensive song.
Chelsea’s Manager Ready to Move Forward
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has indicated he is ready to welcome Fernandez back into the squad, emphasizing that the player has apologized and the situation is clear. Maresca expressed confidence that Fernandez will reintegrate smoothly into the team.
Impact on Argentina’s Performance
The boos seemed to impact Argentina’s performance, as they went into halftime trailing 1-0 to Morocco after Bilal El Khannouss capitalized on a well-constructed Moroccan attack. Argentina’s national team must now focus on overcoming the boos and recent controversy to navigate the Olympic tournament successfully.
