Following Argentina’s 2024 Copa America victory over Colombia, Enzo Fernandez and several of his teammates broadcast a celebratory Instagram live stream during which they sang a song disparaging the France national team. This incident resulted in accusations of racism against Fernandez.
The song included inflammatory lyrics such as: “Listen, spread the word, they play in France, but they are all from Angola, they are going to run well, they like to sleep with trans people; their mom is Nigerian and their dad is Cameroonian, but it says: French.
In response to the situation, Lionel Messi urged Atletico Madrid and Argentina star Rodrigo de Paul to avoid prejudiced behavior.
“WHEN THE [COPA AMERICA] FINAL ENDED, MESSI CAME AND THE FIRST THING HE SAID WAS, ‘NOBODY TAUNTS ANYONE, LET’S CELEBRATE AND ENJOY OUR VICTORY’,” RODRIGO DE PAUL TOLD CLARIN.
Despite Messi’s advice, only a few Argentina players heeded his warning. The others continued to sing the racist chant directed at France’s national team while on the bus.
Enzo Fernandez has borne the brunt of the backlash since the incident, as he was the one who recorded the video.
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