- Argentina kicked off its Olympic football campaign against Morocco on Wednesday
- Their national anthem was booed before kick-off by fans in Saint Etienne.
- The booing came just over a week after Argentina’s players chanted a “racist” chant.
Argentina’s national anthem was booed before the men’s football team’s opening game at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday afternoon amid a storm of racism involving Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
The South American nation kicked off their campaign against Morocco and the players lined up to listen to the customary anthems before kick-off.
When the Argentine anthem was played at the Saint Etienne stadium, it was greeted with widespread booing from the crowd.
The booing that drowned out the anthem came just over a week after Fernandez filmed himself and his Argentina teammates singing a chant aimed at France’s black players after their Copa America triumph.
The song, which also features Kylian Mbappé, was condemned by the French Football Federation, which filed a complaint with FIFA.
Argentina’s national anthem booed amid racist storm over Enzo Fernandez
Fernández filmed himself singing the chant on Argentina’s bus during their Copa America celebrations.
Fernandez’s Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana also reposted the video and labelled the chant “uninhibited racism” before unfollowing Fernandez on Instagram.
Two other Chelsea players, Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi, also unfollowed Fernandez.
The midfielder later apologised for the video and insisted it was not racist, while Chelsea reacted by condemning “all forms of discriminatory behaviour” before carrying out their own investigation.
But fans inside the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard had clearly not forgotten what had happened in recent days and made their feelings clear about the behaviour of the Argentina players last week.
Fernandez is not playing in the Olympics and is currently enjoying some time off the pitch following his exploits at the Copa America.
He was paraded around his former club River Plate over the weekend, only for the entire crowd to once again begin singing the chant aimed at France’s black players.
The storm surrounding Fernandez refuses to go away but Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has insisted he is ready to welcome Fernandez back into his squad next week when he returns from holiday.
Speaking in the United States, where Chelsea are currently on a pre-season tour, Maresca said: “The player made a statement, he apologised and the club did the same. I don’t think there is anything to add, the situation is already clear.”
Asked if there will be any problems in getting him back into the squad, Maresca added: “I don’t think so, to be honest. In the end, they are all human beings, I don’t think there are any bad intentions on the part of any of them.”
“When Enzo returns I don’t think we’ll have any problems, the player has already clarified the situation and the club has done the same. There’s nothing to add.”
“He’s not a bad person. It can happen, I don’t think there’s any problem. I’ve spoken to Enzo, I’ve spoken to many of them. The player has made a statement and apologised, that’s clear.”
Reece James also addressed the issue, with the Chelsea captain saying: “Enzo has acknowledged he did something wrong and apologised to the club and the team. I have spoken to Enzo and everyone involved but those conversations need to stay at home.”
But to continue…