Lionel Messi was forced to apologise on Wednesday for racist chants from Argentina’s players after they won the Copa America.
An Argentine government official said Messi, the team captain, and Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia should apologize after a video was shared on social media showing members of the winning Argentina team singing a racist song about French players with African roots.
Midfielder Enzo Fernandez said he “truly regretted” the incident and his Premier League club Chelsea said it had taken disciplinary action, describing the discriminatory behaviour as “completely unacceptable”.
It is unclear from the video whether Messi — widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time — took part in the chant. But Argentina’s sports secretary, Julio Garro, said he had to apologize.
“The captain of the national team must also apologize for this case. The same president of the AFA (Argentine Football Federation),” Garro said in radio statements. “I think it is appropriate. It leaves us in a bad position as a country, with so much glory.”
Argentina defeated Colombia 1-0 in Miami Gardens, Florida on Sunday, after which a video was posted on Instagram of Fernandez and the Argentine players chanting about the French team as they celebrated.
The same chants — by some Argentine fans — were heard before the team defeated France in the 2022 World Cup final. The derogatory chants specifically target French players of African descent, from different countries and holding French passports.
FIFA said it is also investigating the incident after the French Football Federation vowed to file a complaint with the sport’s international governing body over “racist and discriminatory remarks.”
Chelsea’s response comes after one of Fernandez’s club mates, French defender Wesley Fofana, posted the video to his social media accounts on Tuesday, calling it “unabashed racism”.
Fofana has family ties to the Ivory Coast and is one of several black French players in Chelsea’s first-team squad.
“We pride ourselves on being a diverse, inclusive club where people of all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome,” Chelsea said in a statement on Wednesday. “We acknowledge and appreciate our player’s public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate.
“The Club has initiated an internal disciplinary procedure.”
Fernandez apologized for “getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations.”
“That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character,” he said on Instagram. “I am truly sorry.”
Fernandez became the most expensive player in British football history after moving from Benfica to Chelsea for £106.7 million ($131.4 million) in 2023.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that the world of football and its 211 national associations must adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards racism. In May, he promised to set up a task force to monitor incidents.
“FIFA is aware of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being investigated,” the governing body said on Wednesday. “FIFA strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anyone, including players, fans and officials.”
It is unclear what jurisdiction FIFA has over the incident on a team bus after a tournament, but the umbrella body is likely to take action if the Argentine association’s handling of the matter is deemed unsatisfactory.