New Delhi: The men’s football at the Paris Olympics kicked off with a controversial opening match between Argentina and Morocco. Argentina’s national anthem was loudly booed ahead of their match.
The controversial opening match of Group B ended in a 2-1 defeat for the two-time gold medalists Argentina despite them believing they had snatched a late equaliser. After the lengthy break, the goal of Cristian Medina was declared offside and Morocco emerged victorious.
However, this wasn’t the only talking point of the Olympic opener match. The other point was the loud boos for Argentina’s anthem. This act of disrespect towards a sovereign nation was a direct response to a highly publicised racist incident involving a key member of the Argentine squad, Enzo Fernandez.
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As the players and staff lined up to sing the national anthem before the game, the majority of the crowd started booing. The jeers are likely to be part of the fallout from Fernandez’s controversial video from just one week before. The crowd even continued to whistle at Argentina’s players during the game.
The Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez posted a video of himself and fellow teammates taking part in what was seen as an offensive chat towards the French player after the Copa America triumph. The song signalled out to their nation’s top player, Kylian Mbappe. The French Football Federation issued an official complaint to FIFA. Since then, Enzo has issued a public apology after receiving backlash from the public and even some of his Chelsea teammates.
After this incident, Argentina was always going to be the target of some heckling and abuse from the spectators during the tournament in France.
The boos rang around the Stade Geoffroy Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne, and the same happened in the nation’s rugby match against Kenya, which started after an hour. It could become a common occurrence throughout the tournament as the French people make their feelings known.
What Next?
The booing of Argentina’s national anthem was a regrettable incident that overshadowed the spirit of the Olympics. While it is essential to condemn racism and discrimination, it is equally important to strive for unity and reconciliation. The Argentina side will be next seen in action on Saturday in their second group game against Iraq. So, the Olympic organisation should ensure an inclusive and respectful environment in the upcoming clash.
After Argentina’s national anthem was booed at the Paris 2024 Olympics, explore the controversy and fallout involving Enzo Fernandez and the impact it can have on the upcoming games. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
