The recent celebration of the Argentine national football team after winning the 2024 Copa América has sparked a significant diplomatic incident involving racist and homophobic chants. Following the incident, Karina Milei, the sister of President Javier Milei and the general secretary of the presidency, met with the French ambassador to apologize for the situation, which has escalated into a state matter. The controversy began when Enzo Fernández, a player on the Argentine team, live-streamed the celebrations, during which offensive chants were heard. This led to widespread backlash from France, prompting FIFA to launch an investigation.
Vice President Victoria Villarruel's defense of the players and her controversial remarks on social media further intensified the situation, leading to the dismissal of Julio Garro, the Undersecretary of Sports, after he suggested that Lionel Messi should apologize for the incident. The Argentine government emphasized that it does not dictate the actions of its national team, while also seeking to mitigate tensions with France ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
