France's 3-1 victory over Senegal on Tuesday sparked a new controversy in Argentina. During the match broadcast on DirecTV Sports, commentator Pablo Giralt presented the game as a contest. "between two African countries". The phrase was uttered when the match was still 0-0, at halftime: "0-0, for the moment, in this confrontation between two African countries."
This remark was clearly aimed at the French national team because of the origins of several of its players. It was perceived as equating Les Bleus with an African team, despite their French nationality and status as French internationals.
France sent back to the origins of its players
This kind of comment is not unprecedented in Argentina. Since the 2022 World Cup final, won by Argentina against France, French players have been regularly targeted by chants, messages, and comments focused on their origins. These controversies have resurfaced several times, particularly when Argentine fans or public figures have adopted chants targeting French players of African descent.
Argentine players' outbursts against the French national team: a controversy that's not new.
The controversy surrounding the origins of the French national team players didn't begin with the France-Senegal match. It dates back to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, even before the final between France and Argentina. At that time, Argentinian fans were filmed live on television chanting a song targeting Les Bleus and Kylian Mbappé. The chant's content was explicit: it referred to several French players' African roots and suggested they weren't fully French.
Mbappé, a prime target of Argentine celebrations
After Argentina's victory in the 2022 World Cup final, Kylian Mbappé was a particular target during the celebrations. The French champion, who scored a hat trick in the final, became the central target of a segment of Argentinian fans. Insults, chants, and hostile displays circulated during the festivities. Once again, the sporting rivalry quickly spilled over into something else.
From the stands to the Argentinian locker room
The controversy took on a new dimension in July 2024, after Argentina's Copa America victory. This time, the chant targeting French players wasn't sung by anonymous fans in the stands, but by Argentine players themselves on the team bus. The video, released by Enzo Fernández, sparked an international outcry. It showed several members of the Argentine national team singing a chant already notorious for its racist and discriminatory nature. The fact that the chant was sung in the stands and then taken to the locker room only exacerbated the situation.
Chelsea hit hard
The Enzo Fernández affair quickly transcended the realm of national teams. At Chelsea, where the Argentinian played alongside several French players, the incident created significant tension. Wesley Fofana publicly denounced it. "Unapologetic racism"Meanwhile, the English club opened an internal investigation. Enzo Fernández later apologized, but the damage was done.
Argentina forced to calm its supporters
The repeated occurrence of these abhorrent racist incidents has finally embarrassed the Argentine authorities themselves. Before a qualifying match against Chile, the Argentine national team asked its supporters to avoid offensive or discriminatory chants, reminding them of the risk of international sanctions.
France-Senegal, another incident in front of the cameras
The commentary heard during France-Senegal unfortunately continued in this vein, presenting the match as a confrontation. "between two African countries"Argentine commentator Pablo Giralt has reignited an old controversy…
