NO ENZ TO IT
Enzo Fernandez racism row taken to highest level as Argentina and France’s PRESIDENTS hold emergency summit
National leaders will meet in Paris as furore threatens to overshadow Olympics opening ceremony
THE Enzo Fernandez racism row has gone to the very top — with an emergency summit between the French and Argentine presidents.
Tensions between the two nations are at breaking point over the racist chant aimed at French football stars.
5
5
5
5
Argentine president Javier Milei jetted in on Thursday for talks with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to try to defuse the situation ahead of Friday's Olympic Opening Ceremony.
Argentina’s Olympic footballers were targeted with bottles and firecrackers during a defeat to Morocco in Saint-Etienne on Wednesday.
And last night their country’s rugby sevens side walked into a “toxic” bear-pit of hate as they were edged out by Antoine Dupont and the hosts 26-14 in a quarter-final at Stade de France in Paris.
The French football federation filed a legal complaint over the “unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks” in a video filmed by Fernandez.
READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
The chant, sung by Argentina’s Copa America winners, was originally belted out by their fans ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup final.
Defending her country’s footballers, Milei’s deputy Victoria Villarruel has insisted Argentina would not tolerate criticism from a “colonialist” country.
Those comments further outraged the French while sports minister Julio Garro was sacked by Milei after asking for skipper Lionel Messi to apologise on behalf of the team.
Argentina backtracked, with a Government spokesman disowning Villarruel’s comments.
Most read in Football
5
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
But the incidents in Saint-Etienne and Paris underlined the tensions.
The spokesman announced Milei would be meeting Macron and other French officials at the Elysee Palace, with the issues between the countries understood to be a significant part of the agenda.
Paris Olympics kicks off with fans BOOING Argentina during national anthem after Fernandez's racist video about France
Argentina’s sevens side came under deafening verbal assault.
Ex-England winger Ugo Monye described it as “toxic”.
What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY...
Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony
Only one show in town today.. just about!
The historic Opening Ceremony which is taking place on the River Seine rather than a stadium ends proceedings on Friday evening.
While there has been football and rugby sevens among events which started before the ceremony this week, they will not be taking place on the day of the big bash.
Only shooting pre-event training will take place on the day of the Opening Ceremony.
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
Topics