By: Nana Kwame Bediako
The French Football Federation (FFF) has announced its decision to take legal action against the Argentina Football Federation (AFA) for what it describes as “abusive remarks of a racial and discriminatory nature”.
This announcement follows the circulation of a controversial video featuring Argentina players singing a racially charged song aimed at French players. The video, which surfaced on Tuesday, July 16th, has sparked outrage and drawn significant media attention.
The video captures the joyous moments of the Argentina team after their victorious match against Colombia in the Copa America final. However, the celebratory atmosphere quickly turned sour as the players began chanting a song containing offensive lyrics directed at French players. The song, originally created by Argentina fans in 2022, resurfaced following Argentina’s win over France in the World Cup final in Qatar. Disturbingly, the lyrics suggest that some French players are not genuinely French due to their diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Key portions of the song’s lyrics have been highlighted as particularly problematic. The lyrics include lines such as, “They play for France, but they are from Angola; his mother is Algeria; his father is Cameroonian; but on the passport: French.” These words have been interpreted as an attack on the multicultural makeup of the French national team, suggesting that players of African descent are not truly French despite their citizenship.
The FFF’s decision to pursue legal action underscores the seriousness with which they view the incident. In a statement, the FFF emphasised that such remarks have no place in football or society and that they are committed to combating racism and discrimination in all forms. The legal proceedings are expected to draw significant attention, potentially leading to broader discussions on racism and nationalism in sports.
It will be interesting to see how both federations respond and what measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. The case serves as a stark reminder of the need for continued efforts to promote inclusivity and respect within the global football community.
