Argentine minister sacked after demanding Messi apology in French race row

Argentinian sports curate Julio Garro has been sacked for suggesting Lionel Messi should apologise complete nan title statement which marred nan country’s Copa America triumph.

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez shared a video soon aft Argentina hit Colombia successful Miami connected Sunday that contained connection nan French Football Federation described arsenic “racist and discriminatory”.

The video showed Argentina’s players singing a opus that questions nan practice of France’s achromatic and mixed-race players. 

FIFA are investigating while Chelsea person besides launched a probe into nan behaviour of Fernandez, who apologised yesterday claiming he sewage “caught up successful nan euphoria of our celebrations”.

It is not known if Messi participated successful nan chant but, arsenic captain, it was suggested by Argentina’s sports sub-secretary Julio Garro that he, and Argentinian Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia, should opportunity sorry.

Garro said: “The nationalist squad skipper must besides travel retired to apologise for this case. The aforesaid for nan AFA president. 

“I deliberation it is appropriate. It leaves america arsenic a state successful a bad position.”

Argentina president Javier Millei took a dim position of Garro’s remarks and a connection connected X confirmed he had been dismissed.

The station read: “The Office of nan President reports that nary authorities tin show nan Argentine National Team, world champions and two-time American champions, aliases immoderate different citizen, what to comment, what to deliberation aliases what to do to. For this reason, Julio Garro ceases to beryllium Deputy Secretary of Sports of nan Nation.”

La Oficina del Presidente informa que ningún gobierno puede decirle qué comentar, qué pensar o qué hacer a la Selección Argentina Campeona del Mundo y Bicampeona de América, ni a ningún otro ciudadano. Por esta razón, Julio Garro deja de ser Subsecretario de Deportes de la… pic.twitter.com/o4JRC7gGB1

— Oficina del Presidente (@OPRArgentina) July 17, 2024

Bizarrely, Garro past denied making his earlier remarks, saying: “I categorically contradict that I person asked Messi to apologise. It would beryllium a deficiency of respect for those who permanently honour america pinch their quality and sporting quality.”

He besides apologised if he caused offence but maintained he stood connected nan “right broadside of discrimination’.

Also connected X, he wrote: “I want to convey nan President Javier Milei for nan spot successful letting maine beryllium portion of his team, Guillermo Francos and Daniel Scioli for nan activity we person carried retired together these months and Mauricio Macri for ever considering me.

Quiero agradecerle al Presidente @JMilei por la confianza al dejarme ser parte de su equipo de trabajo, a @GAFrancosOk y a @danielscioli por el laburo que llevamos adelante juntos estos meses y a @mauriciomacri por tenerme siempre en cuenta.
Lamento mucho si mi comentario…

— Julio Garro (@JulioGarro) July 18, 2024

“I americium very sorry if my remark offended anyone, that was ne'er my intention, and that is why I put my resignation astatine their disposal, though I will ever beryllium connected nan different broadside of favoritism successful each its forms.

“Thanks to each nan unit of nan Undersecretariat, CeNARD and Enard for sharing dreams together. I nonstop my wishes for occurrence to nan Government connected this way of translator and to each nan Olympic and Paralympic athletes who will correspond america arsenic athletes earlier nan world successful Paris 2024.”

Messi, who is undergoing curen for an ankle wounded sustained against Colombia, has yet to remark connected nan issue.