Argentina minister fired after demanding apology from Lionel Messi for Racist Chant

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Argentina's deputy sports minister, Julio Garro, was dismissed after suggesting Lionel Messi should apologise for the national team's racist and transphobic chant aimed at France.

Garro made the comment on an Argentinian radio station, which led to his immediate removal from his position, confirmed by the Argentine president.

Garro's remarks came after Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez went live on Instagram, leading the offensive chant. The incident has sparked significant controversy and backlash.

"I think [Messi] should come out and offer the appropriate apologies, as should the Argentine Football Federation president [Claudio Tapia]," Garro said Urbana Play.

He added that the incident "leaves Argentina looking bad as a country" and suggested it would be good to "make an example out of this."

Garro sacked by Argentina President

President Javier Milei fired Garro for his comments about Messi. Milei's official social media account declared that the minister's sacking. Although Messi is said to be not present during the chant, it was a big step from the Argentine president to sack a public servant over an advice.

"The Office of the President states that no government has the right to tell the Argentine national team, world champions and double Copa America champions, or any other citizen, what to comment, what to think and what to do. That is why Julio Garro ceases to be the under-secretary of sport."

This statement was followed by Argentina's vice-president Victoria Villarruel defending Fernandez and criticising colonialist attitudes.

Villarruel said: "No colonialist country is going to intimidate us for a song on the pitch or for telling the truths they don't want to admit. Argentina is a sovereign and free country. We never had colonies or second-class citizens. We have never imposed our way of life on anyone." She added her support for Fernandez and gratitude towards Messi.

International Backlash

The French FA threatened legal action against the Argentinian FA over the chant. Wesley Fofana, Fernandez's Chelsea teammate, posted the video of Fernandez's chant on X (formerly Twitter), calling it "uninhibited racism." Another Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana also took to social media and criticized his teammate for his vile chants.

Fernandez later apologised for his role in leading the chant and tried to emphasise that those words do not reflect his beliefs or character.