(foto: Twitter)
Argentinian Vice President Victoria Villarruel has firmly stood in defense of Argentinian footballers who made racist remarks against some French footballers while celebrating their Copa America victory.
Videos shared on social media by Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez have caused an uproar. The clips showed Argentinian players singing offensive songs about French footballers of African descent during their Copa America victory celebrations. Fernandez has since apologized, admitting he crossed the line.
"The euphoria took over. The song contained inappropriate language, and there is no excuse for those words," Fernandez said in his apology.
The Argentinian government sees things differently. Vice President Victoria Villarruel took to social media platform X to tell the French that, as a former colonial state, they have no right to lecture Argentina on appropriate behavior.
"No colonial country will intimidate us over a football song that merely reveals a truth they refuse to acknowledge. Stop pretending to be outraged, hypocrites. Enzo, I stand with you," Villarruel wrote, adding,
"Argentina is a sovereign and free country. We have never had colonies or second-class citizens. We have never imposed our way of life on anyone else, and we will not allow anyone to impose theirs on us. Enzo, I support you. Argentinians always hold their heads high!"