Argentina anthem booed in France as Olympic football event gets off to controversial start

Argentina’s footballers were fixed a dispute reception by nan French crowd successful St Etienne this day arsenic they opened their Olympic run pinch a 2-2 tie against Morocco.

The South American broadside trailed 2-0 aft 49 minutes successful their Group B conflict pinch 2 goals from Soufiane Rahimi either broadside of half-time – nan 2nd from nan punishment spot – putting Tarik Sektioui’s men successful complete control.

But Argentina, for whom Manchester City prima Julian Alvarez started successful attack, reduced nan arrears done Giuliano Simeone midway done nan 2nd half and Cristian Medina netted a last-gasp equaliser successful nan 16th infinitesimal of added connected time.

It gave Argentina nan past laughter connected a time erstwhile they faced nan ire of nan crowd astatine Geoffrey-Guichard arsenic nan fall-out from nan Enzo Fernandez societal media station continued.

The Argentinian nationalist anthem was roundly booed and their players whistled and heckled passim a pulsating game.

Fewer than 10 days since Argentina players celebrated winning nan Copa America by singing a racist opus astir nan France nationalist team, French & Moroccan supporters show their displeasure during Argentina’s nationalist anthem. 😳pic.twitter.com/92N2z8bAFo

— Men successful Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 24, 2024

Fernandez posted a video soon aft Argentina’s Copa America last triumph complete Colombia connected July 14 that questioned nan practice of France’s achromatic and mixed-race players.

Fernandez apologised though location are apt to beryllium respective repercussions pinch some Chelsea and FIFA launching investigations, nan second connected nan backmost of a title from nan French Football Federation.

The 23-year-old will person immoderate bridges to rebuild successful nan Stamford Bridge dressing room arsenic good pinch his Chelsea team-mate Wesley Fofana describing nan video arsenic “uninhibited racism”, while it has besides been reported nan club’s different French players are arsenic unhappy.

Support from Argentina

Fernandez has received plentifulness of support from Argentina, however.

Javier Mascherano, nan coach of Argentina’s Olympic team, described him arsenic a “great guy” while his chap Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul accused Fofana of “malice” by criticising his team-mate publicly.

De Paul said: “I deliberation there’s a place. And if immoderate of Enzo’s team-mates feels offended nan measurement is to telephone him, not put it connected societal networks.

“There is simply a spot of malice there, aliases wanting to put Enzo successful a spot that has thing to do pinch him.”

There has been governmental fall-out excessively pinch nan country’s sports curate Julio Garro sacked by president Javier Millei for suggesting Lionel Messi should apologise for nan squad’s actions.

Messi, who is undergoing curen for an ankle wounded sustained against Colombia, has yet to comment.