According to news from Argentina’s El Nacion on the 18th, the Argentine President’s Office officially announced that Julio Garro, the deputy sports minister, has been dismissed from his post due to his recent remarks calling on Messi and the Argentine football team to apologize to the public for the racial discrimination controversy.
Messi leads Argentina to win Copa America trophy again
On the evening of July 14, local time, the 2024 America's Cup final was held in Miami, Florida, USA. Argentina defeated Colombia 1-0 in overtime and won the championship trophy.
At the end of his career, Messi led the Argentine national team to replicate the Spanish team's three consecutive major championships. However, a very controversial scene occurred during the Argentine team's celebration after the game: many players sang racially charged songs. , some of the lyrics poked fun at the French player's immigrant origins.
Team member Enzo Fernandez happened to record the scene live on social platforms, causing an international public outcry.
Julio Garro, First Deputy Minister of Sports of Argentina, spoke out on this incident
On July 17, the French Football Association officially issued an announcement stating that it would appeal against this. Julio Garro, the First Deputy Minister of Sports of Argentina, also demanded a public apology from the president of the Football Association and the captain of the national team (Messi).
Julio Garro is the first deputy minister of the Argentine Ministry of Sports and the permanent undersecretary who actually presides over the daily work of the sports world.
After the incident, Julio told people that Argentine Football Association President Claudio Tapia and national team captain Messi should stand up and apologize for the harm caused by racial discrimination. He also said that this incident "disgraced the Argentine country" and called it "a very loud wake-up call."
However, Julio Garro posted after realizing the seriousness of the situation: "I firmly deny that I ever asked Messi to apologize.
This is disrespectful to those who have brought us honor with their personal qualities and sportsmanship."
Unfortunately, the previous video of his speech was recorded by an internal employee and has been circulated on the Internet.
Argentina's Ministry of Interior stated that Julio's speech only represents an individual and does not represent the position of national institutions.
Argentine President Milai fired First Deputy Sports Minister Julio Garro in anger
The remarks of Julio Garro, the First Deputy Minister of Sports of Argentina, angered Argentine President Milai, who directly announced Julio's dismissal online.
Not only that, Manuel, spokesman for the Argentine President’s Office, said that he plans to close the “National Institute of Anti-Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism”, calling this institution “almost useless and only a waste of money.”
The Argentine President's Office announced on its social media account that "no government official has the power to decide the Argentine national team members, world champions and two-time America's Cup champions, so Julio Garro will no longer serve as deputy minister of national sports."
President Mi Lai's personal account also forwarded a comment saying, "All officials must be held accountable for their remarks. Once they deviate from the truth, they should step down."
Argentina's Vice President supports Messi and supports the resignation of the First Deputy Minister of Sports
Argentine Vice President Villaruel even made a passionate speech: "Argentina is a sovereign, independent and free country.
We have never had a colony or second-class citizens. We have never had our way of life We will not allow others to do this to us.
Argentina was built with the sweat and courage of Indians, Europeans, Creoles and black people.
Threatening us with the truth that they don’t want to admit. Stop pretending to be angry, Enzo, I support you, Messi, thank you for everything! Long live Argentina!”
Argentina coach Mascherano defends Enzo
Argentine Olympic coach and football legend Javier Mascherano accepted an exclusive interview with the media.
He believed that short video clips on the Internet were "interpreted out of context" by the media, and racism has no place in Argentina.
He said, "If there is one quality about our country, it is that we are a completely tolerant country, with people from all over the world living in Argentina.
Many times we need to understand the culture of each country and what we consider to be a joke It might be misunderstood elsewhere."
Mascherano also said: "I know Enzo, he is a good kid and he has no problems in this area at all."
Racist lyrics cause uproar, Enzo deletes post and apologizes
Part of the Argentinian player's controversial song poked fun at the French player's immigrant origins.
Part of the lyrics is clearly a satire on France, and points to the fact that the majority of the French team's players are of African descent.
Enzo has deleted the live broadcast clip and issued an apology statement on social media, saying, "I sincerely apologize for this video. These random lyrics and image clips do not represent my true personal beliefs and character."
Chelsea Club announced It launched an internal disciplinary investigation process against Enzo and hoped to use Enzo's apology "as a textbook warning to future generations."
The Argentine team has frequently played against the French team in major competitions in recent years, especially the last World Cup final, which caused deep resentment between the two sides. French star Mbappe once expressed the view that "South American football is not as good as European football", which made many Argentine players resentful.