The so-called “triple crown” arrived in Argentina last weekend. After defeating Colombia and being crowned champion of the 2024 Copa América, they completed a spectacular three-year run, having won the same continental tournament in 2021 and, of course, the World Cup in 2022.

However, it wasn’t until extra time that Nerazurri forward Lautaro Martínez sent the ball into the back of the net at the Hard Rock Stadium. He secured his position as the top scorer with five goals, delivering Argentina their sixteenth South American title.

But the celebrations got out of hand, especially among the younger members of the Argentine squad. Since Monday, a viral video has been circulating on social media, showing Argentine players, with midfielder Enzo prominently featured, singing.

This wouldn’t typically be an issue, except that during their Copa América victory celebration on the bus, the song they started singing was a chant with racist terms against the ‘Bleus’.

Many might wonder why they were chanting about France when their opponent in the Copa América was Colombia. The chant became popular among Argentine fans during the World Cup Final in December 2022, when Argentina faced France. The song contains highly discriminatory lyrics against people of African descent in France:

"Listen up, spread the word, they play in France, but they’re all from Angola.
How lovely it is, they’ll run, they’re trans-eaters like that faggot, Mbappé.
His mother is Nigerian, and his father is Cameroonian,
But on his ID, nationality: French.”

Following this controversial episode, criticism quickly emerged against the Argentine team. “Pathetic. These behaviors are unacceptable,” wrote French Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra on her X account. “FIFA: any reaction?” she concluded sarcastically.

She was not alone. Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, and Axel Disasi, teammates of Enzo Fernández at Chelsea, who posted the controversial video, harshly criticized the 23-year-old midfielder.

The trio of French defenders, with African roots, commented that it is “unacceptable” for incidents like this to happen in 2024. They unfollowed Enzo on social media, and a chaotic meeting is expected after the holidays, once the new 2024–2025 season starts at Stamford Bridge.

Aware of his mistake, the San Martín native apologized through his personal profile. "I want to apologize for the celebrations, those words do not reflect who I am.” Chelsea, while appreciating the gesture from their star midfielder, stated that they have “initiated an internal disciplinary procedure," according to the club’s statement.

Now, it remains to be seen how the situation will progress. The French Football Federation (FFF) filed a complaint for racist statements on social media, as did SOS Racism. Later, FIFA and other organizations announced the “opening of an investigation,” which could possibly result in severe consequences for the recent Copa América champions. FIFA will definitely have its work cut out for it after the security problems and the conflict between Colombia and Uruguay that ended in a massive brawl.