exist
Argentina
National team captain Lionel Messi and Football Association president Tapiain
Enzo
Live video allegedly
racial discrimination
fiasco after being asked to apologize.
President of Argentina
The office announced the dismissal of the Deputy Minister of Sports, Julio Garro.
In the announcement, the President's Office said, "No government can decide what comments, thoughts or actions are made by the Argentine national team, the world champion and two-time Copa América winner, or any other citizen. Therefore, Julio Garro is no longer Vice Minister of National Sports."
The incident started when Argentine media outlet El Nacional reported that Julio Garro had gone on record as saying that captain Lionel Messi and Football Association president Tapia should apologize to the public for the inappropriate comments made in the live video. He said, "I think the captain of the national team (Messi) should come out and apologize for this, as should the president of the FA. This incident puts us in a bad position as a country with so many honors, but if it is put into practice, I think it will be good for the country and the whole world."
However, Julio Garro later denied he had asked Messi to apologize in a social media post, "I categorically deny having asked Messi to apologize. This is disrespectful to those who have brought us honor with their personal and sporting qualities."
In response to this incident, the President and Vice-President of Argentina have also issued statements expressing their support for the autonomous decision-making of the national team and the Football Association, emphasizing that the Government will not intervene in the affairs of the national team and that it guarantees freedom of expression for all citizens.
