Lionel Messi's Warning Ignored as Argentina Squad Faces Racism and Transphobia Controversy

Lionel Messi urged his Argentina teammates to behave responsibly, but controversy erupted after Enzo Fernandez and others were filmed singing a chant described as racist and transphobic.

Following Argentina's Copa America final win against Colombia, Lionel Messi cautioned his teammates to conduct themselves properly. However, a video emerged showing Enzo Fernandez and other Argentina squad members chanting a song directed at the France team, containing racist and transphobic slurs.

The chant, popular among Argentina fans during the 2022 World Cup, includes derogatory references to the French national team and its players of African descent, and mentions about "sleeping with trans people," allegedly targeting Kylian Mbappe and his supposed relationship with transgender model Ines Rau.

Enzo Fernandez, a star midfielder for Chelsea in the Premier League, shared the video on Instagram after Argentina's 1-0 victory over Colombia, where Lautaro Martinez scored the decisive goal. The post immediately drew criticism, including from Fernandez's Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana, who reposted it with the caption, "Football in 2024: uninhibited racism."

Caught in the backlash, Fernandez apologized, stating his opposition to prejudice and explaining he was caught up in the excitement of the celebration. Chelsea released a statement condemning the incident and initiated "internal disciplinary proceedings."

Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul revealed insights into Messi's leadership, noting that Messi had advised the team against taunting opponents. "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 different, and he gets on top of the table," De Paul shared.

De Paul defended Fernandez, emphasizing the importance of addressing such issues privately among teammates rather than publicly on social media. He remarked, "Unfollowing him seems pointless to me. You can call him and say, 'This isn’t okay, why don’t you post a message apologizing?' - and the issue ends there."

The French Football Federation (FFF) plans to file a legal complaint over the incident, describing it as "unacceptable, racist, and discriminatory." The controversy has sparked a broader discussion about racism in football and the responsibility of players to promote inclusivity and respect.

Amid the controversy, Messi faces calls for an apology from the Argentine government. Sub-secretary Julio Garro urged Messi and the team to apologize, stating their actions have tarnished Argentina's image. "The team's actions have left Argentina in a bad position, despite so much glory," Garro stated.

Reports indicate that Messi was not on the team bus when the chant began.

Kick It Out condemned the "discriminatory chant" as "unacceptable and clearly needs to stop." They expressed full support for Wesley Fofana for bringing the issue to wider attention.