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Lionel Messi's Copa America demand was ignored by Argentina teammates amid Enzo Fernandez racism row as captain's plea is revealed
Lionel Messi issued a stern warning and demanded his Argentina teammates conduct themselves properly after their 1-0 win over Colombia on Sunday. However, his plea was ignored by the team.
As a result, La Albiceleste's 16th Copa America triumph went under a dark cloud when several players were filmed taking part in a racist chant aimed at French players during their celebrations on the team bus. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who streamed the video on his social media, has been at the center of the backlash.
In the middle of the chaos, midfield maestro Rodrigo De Paul came out to praise Messi's leadership. After the masses noticed Messi's absence on the team bus, the Atletico Madrid star shared how he's prevented such behavior in the past.
'Leo did not let us sing songs to Brazil [in 2021] on the pitch because he knows how everything works,' De Paul told Clarin. 'But in the hotel, in private, it's a different story and he gets on top of the table.'
A video from their 2021 Copa America victory has resurfaced showing the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner halting his teammates as they began chanting 'Brasileiro Brasileiro'. Messi is seen wagging a finger and telling his teammates 'no' before walking away.
Lionel Messi urged his teammates to behave accordingly before Enzo Fernandez's racist row
'On the Colombian side, they said that Messi and [Angel Di Maria] were no longer the same and we wanted to go and look for them as soon as we won,' DePaul added.
'Leo told us: 'Nobody is going to pick on anyone, now we are going to celebrate.''
Fernandez has since issued an apology after receiving much heat for the video. Writing: 'I want to apologize sincerely for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations.'
'The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words,' Fernandez continued. 'I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologize for getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations.'
Rodrigo De Paul spoke about how Messi stopped the team's inappropriate chanting in the past
Fernandez streamed himself and teammates singing a discriminatory song on the team bus
The video came after Argentina's lackluster 1-0 win over Colombia in the Copa America final
'That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character. I am truly sorry.'
The discriminatory chant is said be aimed at the French team and their African roots. The chant also contains the phrase 'they like to sleep with trans people' - believed to be a reference to Kylian Mbappe's rumored relationship with transgender model Ines Rau.
Argentina's deputy minister of sport, Julio Garro, was fired days after the incident for suggesting that Messi should apologize for the team's actions. Hours later, Argentina's right-wing president Javier Milei dismissed Garro from the position.
The French FA has also filed a complaint over the video which lead to FIFA's ongoing investigation.
Minister Julio Garro was sacked after urging Messi to apologize amid Fernandez's racist row
Fernandez is pictured here with French teammates Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile
Furthermore, Fernandez's club Chelsea are also investigating as players Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, and Malo Gusto have unfollowed the midfielder on social media.
'I think there's malice in this, they're trying to make it something it's not. It's very strange, like kicking someone when they're down,' De Paul added.
'Unfollowing him seems pointless to me. You can call him and say: 'This isn't okay, why don't you post a message apologizing?' - and the issue ends there.'