THE Enzo Fernandez racism row has gone to the very top — with an emergency summit between the French and Argentine presidents.
Tensions between the two nations are at breaking point over the racist chant aimed at French football stars.
Argentine president Javier Milei jetted in on Thursday for talks with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to try to defuse the situation ahead of Friday's Olympic Opening Ceremony.
Argentina’s Olympic footballers were targeted with bottles and firecrackers during a defeat to Morocco in Saint-Etienne on Wednesday.
And last night their country’s rugby sevens side walked into a “toxic” bear-pit of hate as they were edged out by Antoine Dupont and the hosts 26-14 in a quarter-final at Stade de France in Paris.
The French football federation filed a legal complaint over the “unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks” in a video filmed by Fernandez.
The chant, sung by Argentina’s Copa America winners, was originally belted out by their fans ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup final.
Defending her country’s footballers, Milei’s deputy Victoria Villarruel has insisted Argentina would not tolerate criticism from a “colonialist” country.
Those comments further outraged the French while sports minister Julio Garro was sacked by Milei after asking for skipper Lionel Messi to apologise on behalf of the team.
Argentina backtracked, with a Government spokesman disowning Villarruel’s comments.
But the incidents in Saint-Etienne and Paris underlined the tensions.
The spokesman announced Milei would be meeting Macron and other French officials at the Elysee Palace, with the issues between the countries understood to be a significant part of the agenda.
Argentina’s sevens side came under deafening verbal assault.
Ex-England winger Ugo Monye described it as “toxic”.
rafaeljoel
553
Now Argentina is the most hated country in the world of sport.....started slowly now fire is coming on and believe me Enzo won't make it in Chelsea England they'll milk him
zepemouy
381
For me I don't understand why people are making noise about it.. See fifa has its rules which gives right to players to choose country they want to represent... Provided the. Player meets the standard to represent the country he wants to for its nobody's business.... The argentine people still have taste for racism.. After the genocide thier forefathers did in 1886 to 1890..check thier history...
Vankmprt
269
These Argentine players with their leaders had to face it rough. racism is what the whole world is against, and there is a nation supporting it to exist. shame to Enzo and the vice president. I wish all Argentine who plays in the French league must leave.
Hihcklnors
248
If French let them African players play for the country. Africa. Would be win the World Cup already
Fokdnpsu
247
any country that doesn't welcome blacks, deserve no love and will end as the worst country ever..
Puaabdeios
119
It's not like this white players have no foreign roots, they are mixture of many races but just because they are white they blend in and no one cares. But when a black a person who has foreign roots and challenge whites at a bigger level he is being called out as if he doesn't belong to this planet.