Paris Olympics kicks off with fans BOOING Argentina’s national anthem after Enzo Fernandez’s racist video about France

THE PARIS Olympics have begun with boos ringing around the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne.

Fans inside the ground appeared to boo the Argentinian football team during their national anthem.

Eurosport

The Argentina Olympic football team were booed during their national anthem[/caption]

Eurosport

Manager Javier Mascherano looked on during the boos[/caption]

Eurosport

Fans were watching on at the Olympics for the first time in eight years[/caption]

Argentina take on Morocco in the opening clash of the Olympic football at the Paris games, with fans attending the Olympic games for the first time in eight years.

The boos weren’t just restricted to the football either.

Argentina’s rugby sevens side were also beginning their Olympics campaign in a clash against Kenya in the Stade de France.

The Argentine side were on the receiving end of loud jeers and boos when they scored, while opponents Kenya were offered huge support from the home crowds.

The boos come following Argentina football star Enzo Fernandez’s controversial “racist” video that was streamed on social media earlier this month.

Chelsea midfielder Fernandez live streamed a video of himself and his Argentina teammates singing a sick chant on Instagram following their Copa America success in Miami last week.

The vile chant appeared to take aim at the French national team and dates back to the 2022 World Cup, when Argentina beat France in the final on penalties.

Appearing on live TV back then, some fans from the South American country sang an offensive chant that alluded to a number of the French star’s African heritage.

BBC

The Argentina rugby sevens side were also booed in France[/caption]

BBC

Jeers could be heard when they scored[/caption]

And in Fernandez’s Instagram video, he and his team-mates could be heard to sing the sickening words during their celebrations.

At present it is not clear if the boos during the Olympic games are directly related to the video.

Chelsea have launched an investigation into a clip uploaded to Instagram by Enzo Fernandez

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Fernandez’s Chelsea team-mate Wesley Fofana has slammed the video as ‘racism’ on social media[/caption]

Fernandez’s Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana, who is French and the son of an Ivorian father, took to social media to slam the clip as “racism”.

He wrote: “Football in 2024: uninhibited racism“.

While French FA chiefs have since threatened legal action against Argentina as a result of the incident.

A statement from the FFF read: “Faced with the seriousness of these shocking remarks.

“Contrary to the values of sport and human rights, the president of the FFF decided to directly challenge his Argentine counterpart.

“And Fifa to file a legal complaint for insulting remarks of a racial and discriminatory nature.”

While Fernandez’s club side Chelsea explained that they would investigate the video.

Fernandez, who is not part of Argentina’s Olympic squad, released a statement apologising for his actions.

It read: “I want to apologise sincerely for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations.

“The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words.

“I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologise for getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations.

“That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character. I am truly sorry.”

Fernandez is set to join Chelsea’s preseason tour on Monday following the racism storm created by his video.

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Fernandez is not part of the Argentina Olympic team after winning the Copa America with the first team earlier this month[/caption]

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Fernandez is set to return to Chelsea for their pre-season tour on Monday[/caption]