

Only a fool would fail to recognise that racism runs deep in Argentina.
That has always been the case and will not change any time soon.
There is plenty of indignation over Argentinian national side footballer Enzo Fernandez’s racist video where he sings with other teammates that most of the French team is of African descent yet they claim to be French.
Now they sang this in fine voice after winning the Copa America trophy against Colombia on the coach after their victory.
Why did France and its team makeup enter the Argentina team’s thoughts after winning the Copa America final on the other side of the world?

Enzo Fernandez has apologised and for many that should be the end of the matter. No, it should not.
Fernandez should be fined a minimum of US$1 million and banned from both international and club football for a year. Now that would send a message that racist behaviour will not be tolerated and those who engage in it will find their actions injurious to their careers.
Uruguayan Luis Suarez displayed his racism while playing for Liverpool. He told Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, ‘porque tu eres negro’ (Because you are black). He got away with it lightly.
In England, the FA have this line, “No room for racism”. That’s a bit fey if you ask me and what does that really mean anyway?
For generations now, black footballers across Europe have been subjected to racism—from John Barnes to Bukayo Saka. They’ve had bananas thrown at them, monkey chants descending from the stands in the stadium, horrible insults lobbed at them—both from their own and the opponent’s supporters. It’s tough for them to endure and they get little support.

Some black French players like Kylian Mbappe have cautioned about the country moving to the far right and what that will mean for the national side. Can players such as himself in good conscience truly represent France with national fervour and fear no reprisals or recriminations due to their ancestry?
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior has talked about the abuse he gets playing for Real Madrid. The racism levelled at him in Spain, particularly at Valencia, is hurtful.

Speaking in March this year at a press conference, the black Brazilian Real Madrid star said: “ I just want to play football but it’s hard to move forward…I feel less and less like playing (due to the racist abuse).
“It never crossed my mind to leave Spain because if I leave Spain, I give the racists exactly what they want. I will stay because that way the racists can continue to see my face more and more. I’m a bold player, I play for Real Madrid and we win a lot of titles and that doesn’t sit well with a lot of people.”
FIFA has made efforts to address its own internal corruption, now it has to advocate for racism in football stadiums to be a criminal offence. There has to be action. There is too much tip-toeing around this issue. Racist footballers and supporters must be held accountable. There appears to be no understanding of the impact of their racist words.
Racism is strong in Argentinian culture, they look down on black people, and racism is systemic there. Now that’s strange for a country that once had a large black population. Look at the glee on the faces of the national team singing that vile song. It tells you all you need to know. Was Messi on that bus singing along with his teammates?
I hope Leon Bailey took note and can comprehend the importance of representing Jamaica with pride. When a man discredits a player’s national commitment because of his African background, it brings up a range of issues.

Only yesterday, an Italian engineer was telling me that he couldn’t get his head around Denzel Washington playing a Roman emperor in ‘Gladiator II‘. DEI has come a long way from 2000, that’s for sure.
Enzo Fernandez has played with teammates of different nationalities and races throughout his career. This is a guy that plays for Chelsea in London which is a diverse city. How is he going to look his black teammates in their eyes at the start of this season? Can they ever trust or befriend him after seeing that video? Ignorance is no excuse here.
When Fernandez gets with his own people like on that coach, his instincts and true nature comes out. That’s what we all saw.
Enzo Fernandez went on social media live and insulted and ridiculed black players—that’s a fact. He can’t come back from that.

When an Argentine player says “France, the best African team ever,” one gets the picture.
It’s now not about the country you play for, it’s more about your ethnic background.
“Listen, spread the word, they play in France, but they are all from Angola, they are going to run well, they like to sleep with trans people, their Mum is Nigerian, their Dad is Cameroonian, but on the passport, it says: French.”
What a nasty, hateful song.
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