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Argentina began their Olympics Games with football and rugby sevens matches.
Argentina's Olympic campaign got off to a rocky start as their national anthem was met with loud boos from the crowd before their opening match against Morocco on Wednesday.
Argentina was booed ahead of football and rugby sevens matches at the Paris Olympics. The national team must now focus on the task at hand and try to overcome the boos and the recent controversy to navigate the Olympic tournament.
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This follows a recent controversy surrounding Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who is not part of the Olympic squad.
Fans Voice Displeasure Over Racist Chant
The jeers erupted just as the Argentina national anthem began to play at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint Etienne.
This incident comes just over a week after a video emerged online showing Fernandez and his Argentina teammates singing a chant targeting black players from France following their Copa America victory.
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The Chant and its Fallout
The song, which also mocks French star Kylian Mbappe, sparked outrage. The French Football Federation (FFF) condemned the chant and filed a complaint with FIFA.
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The video also drew criticism from within Chelsea, with Fernandez's teammate Wesley Fofana labeling it "uninhibited racism" and unfollowing Fernandez on Instagram. Two other Chelsea players, Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi, also unfollowed Fernandez.
Fernandez's Response and Upcoming Season
Fernandez apologised for the video, insisting he is not racist. Chelsea officially condemned "all forms of discriminatory behavior" and launched their investigation.
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However, fans in Paris haven't forgotten the incident, making their disapproval known during the Olympic match.
Fernandez Absent, Controversy Lingers
While Fernandez is not currently with the Olympic team, the controversy surrounding him is far from over. Back in Argentina, he was recently paraded at his former club River Plate, where the crowd began chanting the same offensive song against French players.
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Chelsea's Manager Ready to Move Forward
Despite the controversy, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has indicated he is prepared to welcome Fernandez back into the squad next week upon his return from vacation.
Maresca stated that Fernandez has apologised and the situation is clear. He also expressed confidence that there will be no issues with Fernandez reintegrating with the team.
The boos appeared to have an impact on Argentina's performance, as they went into halftime trailing 1-0 to Morocco after Bilal El Khannouss capitalised on a well-constructed Moroccan attack.
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