Copa America

See Argentina players got 'caught up in the euphoria' of their win, which would be enough to explain overtly racist/transphobic chanting? France as well, where did that even come from? Maybe it's the machismo culture that exists in that part of the world, one form of prejudice a stone's throw from another. They should be banned from the next Copa America.

Oh, Argentinian football is riddled with racism. It's very "normal" for there to be a racist incident (normally from fans, but occasionally with players as well) when Argentinian clubs play Brazilian teams in South American competitions like the Libertadores.

I grew up with Argentinians referring to Brazilians as 'macaquitos' (something like 'little monkeys'), openly and with no sense of shame at all. In 1996, the main Argentinian sports newspaper used "Que vengan los macacos" (something like "And now come the monkeys") as a headline during the Olympics football tournament as they waited to see whether they would play Brazil or Nigeria in the final.



And before anyone accuses me of being bitter towards them, here's what Tim Vickery has written about it:

With monotonous and depressing regularity, when teams from Argentina play opponents from Brazil in continental club competitions, there are scenes in the stands of Argentine fans making monkey gestures.

When interviewed, the perpetrators vehemently deny that they are racists. They are indulging in 'banter'. All is fair, they argue, in love, war and football. Anything that goads and irritates the opposition is fair game. And on this latest matter, such sentiments are widespread.

The attempts from Argentine clubs to crack down on this behaviour have often been half-hearted, with references to 'xenophobia' - instead of calling it what it is: racism.

Especially depressing is the fact that this behaviour has been exhibited by some of the players. Here there is no excuse.

Full article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cpe39n00ng2o

There are not old things, they happen every year. In 2019, I was in Lima city centre with Flamengo fans on the eve of the Libertadores final against River Plate. There were a couple of River Plate fans making monkey gestures towards us.

This is from 2023, when Fluminense also played River Plate: https://en.as.com/soccer/fluminense-head-coach-slams-racist-river-plate-fans-n/

This year, Boca Juniors have been fined for racist gestures from fans in a game against Palmeiras last year: https://laopinion.com/2024/04/08/la-conmebol-sanciono-a-boca-juniors-por-actos-racistas-ante-palmeiras-en-la-copa-libertadores/

Last year, Racing were fined for the same reason in a game against Flamengo: https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/flamengo/noticia/2023/05/24/racing-e-punido-em-cerca-de-r-500-mil-por-insultos-racistas-em-jogo-contra-o-flamengo.ghtml

Only last month, an Argentinian player at Atletico Mineiro was accused of using racist slurs towards a Fortaleza player: https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/ultimas-noticias/agencia/2024/06/24/jogador-do-fortaleza-acusa-meia-battaglia-do-atletico-mg-de-racismo-em-jogo-do-brasileirao.htm#

I could go on indefinitely. There are dozens and dozens of example. This is no isolated incident, it is the whole Argentinian football culture that stinks of racism. So it is hardly a surprise that it reaches up to the level even of the national team.

See Argentina players got 'caught up in the euphoria' of their win, which would be enough to explain overtly racist/transphobic chanting? France as well, where did that even come from? Maybe it's the machismo culture that exists in that part of the world, one form of prejudice a stone's throw from another. They should be banned from the next Copa America.

The Barras Brava boys don't F**k about

French and Colombian FA's set to make complaints to FIFA about the chanting.

Alexis Mac Allister on Enzo Fernández case:

"You have to be careful with what you say or do, especially in Europe where they are much more sensitive than here. The reality is that we are not a racist country; we are not used to talking about racism so much.

"Yes, it's a very important topic, obviously. Enzo has already apologized and explained what happened. I don't think there's much more to say. We know Enzo, we know he would never do it with bad intentions, he's not that guy, he's not racist.

"It's just a chant that got stuck and is more of a mocking tone than anything else. But, as I said, you have to be very careful.

"I think the most important thing is that Enzo came out, gave the corresponding apologies, and that, in the end, should be valued."

Alexis Mac Allister on Enzo Fernández case:

"You have to be careful with what you say or do, especially in Europe where they are much more sensitive than here. The reality is that we are not a racist country; we are not used to talking about racism so much.

"Yes, it's a very important topic, obviously. Enzo has already apologized and explained what happened. I don't think there's much more to say. We know Enzo, we know he would never do it with bad intentions, he's not that guy, he's not racist.

"It's just a chant that got stuck and is more of a mocking tone than anything else. But, as I said, you have to be very careful.

"I think the most important thing is that Enzo came out, gave the corresponding apologies, and that, in the end, should be valued."

Grim as F**k that. Half defending that bollocks as 'more of a mocking tone'. What a tw*t.

Grim as F**k that. Half defending that bollocks as 'more of a mocking tone'. What a tw*t.

Yeah, he just had to keep his mouth shut, but apparently even that small decency was too hard for him.

It's also F***ing hilarious coming from a guy that cried to Messi so he would tell the argentinian squad to stop calling him a ginger. How wasn't that "just a chant" or "more of a mocking tone" type of thing? The mental gymnastics are F***ing elite, what an idiot.

Without meaning to add to the xenophobia/sweeping statements about other countries and cultures... are we shocked?

In a way Alexis is right. Europe is far less tolerant to overt racism than they are over there.

Will be quite deeply embedded in the culture to the extent fans think its a legitimate weapon to throw opponents off their game on the pitch or the players think it's a topic for mockery and banter in victory off it.

It's messed up but you could ask any member of Argentine squad and they'd more than likely put their foot in their mouths defending Enzo

Alexis Mac Allister on Enzo Fernández case:

"You have to be careful with what you say or do, especially in Europe where they are much more sensitive than here. The reality is that we are not a racist country; we are not used to talking about racism so much.

"Yes, it's a very important topic, obviously. Enzo has already apologized and explained what happened. I don't think there's much more to say. We know Enzo, we know he would never do it with bad intentions, he's not that guy, he's not racist.

"It's just a chant that got stuck and is more of a mocking tone than anything else. But, as I said, you have to be very careful.

"I think the most important thing is that Enzo came out, gave the corresponding apologies, and that, in the end, should be valued."

Sometimes it's just better to say nothing at all, this would've been 1 of those times. No idea what Mac was thinking here.

So F***ing dense from Mac Allister that. Embarrassing. Proof that Argentina is increasingly becoming a basket case of a nation.

In trying to defend the indefensible he's brought the spotlight onto himself. The other guy got himself into a mess and it was for him and him alone to explain. Now Mac A. is tarnished by association.

Ibou when he next sees Mac....well you can't really see it from this but he's just clobbered into the back of him