Argentina solidified its position as the world’s top-ranked team in FIFA’s men’s rankings on Thursday, amidst controversy over a racist incident involving players celebrating their Copa America victory by singing offensive chants aimed at France, the second-ranked team.
Following the chant, which disparaged the African heritage of some French players, Argentina’s government took action, dismissing a senior sports official who called for apologies from Lionel Messi and the Argentine Football Association president. FIFA initiated an investigation, and Chelsea began disciplinary proceedings against Enzo Fernandez, who shared the video on social media from the Argentina team bus in Florida.
Fernandez later issued an apology on Instagram, though it was subsequently deleted, expressing regret and stating that the incident did not reflect his personal beliefs.
In response to criticism, Argentina’s vice president, Victoria Villarruel, defended the players, asserting that the nation would not be shamed for expressing what she termed as a truth, despite accusations of racism. She emphasized Argentina’s multicultural history and criticized those feigning offense, declaring solidarity with Fernandez and thanking Messi.
The incident has drawn condemnation from within the football community, with French Chelsea player Wesley Fofana condemning it as blatant racism. FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated the organization’s zero-tolerance stance on racism and committed to intensifying efforts to combat such incidents.
Argentina has maintained its top ranking since April 2023, extending its lead over France, while Euro 2024 winners Spain climbed to third place in the latest rankings. England and Brazil swapped places, with Colombia also rising in the rankings following their Copa America performance. Morocco, despite dropping in rank, remains Africa’s top-ranked team, while the United States and Mexico saw declines in their standings within the CONCACAF region.
