The French Football Federation (FFF) said on Tuesday it had filed a complaint with FIFA and would be taking legal action following racist chants by Argentina players from the Copa America-winning team.
FFF president Philippe Diallo said in a statement that he “firmly condemns the unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks made against members of the French team.”
The chant was heard in a live video posted to social media by Chelsea and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from the team bus after the team's Copa League win over Colombia in Miami on Sunday.
Some players, including Fernandez, are singing a chant that dates back to Argentina's 2022 World Cup final win over France.
The song targets France's star striker Kylian Mbappe and includes homophobic insults.
“Faced by the gravity of these shocking comments, which go against sporting and human rights values, the FFF President has decided to directly challenge the Argentine president and FIFA and to file a legal complaint against them for the racist and insulting comments,” the FFF statement said.
Fernandes' Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana criticised the video on social media.
“Football 2024: racism without complexes,” the France international said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
France's Sports Minister Amélie Oudea-Castella also called on FIFA to take action.
“This is pathetic and all the more unacceptable because it is repeated,” Udea Castella wrote to X.
“FIFA's response?” she added.
Argentina and France have had a bitter rivalry ever since the South American team lost to France in the first round of the knockout stages at the 2018 World Cup.
Two years ago, the FFF also filed a complaint about racist comments on social media.
Ali/PB/EA/IWD
© Agence France-Presse
