France threatens legal action against Argentina players over ‘racist’ song

The French Football Federation (FFF) has threatened to take legal action against Argentina’s national team players over “racially offensive” songs.

Following Argentina’s triumph in the 2024 Copa America final over Colombia, an online video showed Argentina players celebrating their victory while singing songs on the team bus.

One such song was directed at the French national team players, and Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea midfielder, could be seen chanting along to the lyrics.

The footage drew ire from several social media users who considered the lyrics of the song to be racially inappropriate and discriminatory.

Reacting to the development, Philippe Diallo, the president of the FFF, described the song as “unacceptable” and “racist”.

In a statement on the federation’s website on Tuesday, Diallo said the action is “contrary to the values ​​of sport and human rights”.

He added that FFF has decided “to file a legal complaint for racially offensive and discriminatory remarks”.

“The President of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, condemns in the strongest terms the unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks that were made against the players of the French team during a song sung by players and supporters of the Argentine team after its victory in the Copa America and broadcast in a video on social networks,” the statement reads.

“Faced with the seriousness of these shocking remarks, contrary to the values of sport and human rights, the president of the FFF decided to directly appeal to his Argentinian counterpart and FIFA and to file a legal complaint for racially offensive and discriminatory remarks.”

Argentina and France have had a heated rivalry in recent FIFA World Cup tournaments. While the French defeated Argentina en route to winning the 2018 World Cup title, the Argentines returned the favour by exerting revenge in the final of the 2022 World Cup.