Argentine Deputy Minister Loses Job After Demanding Messi's Apology

"No member of the government is allowed to tell the Argentine national team - which has just won the World Cup and two Copa Americas - or any citizen what to think, say or do," the Argentine government's office said on social media.X"Therefore, Mr. Julio Garro is no longer the Deputy Minister of Sports of Argentina".

Mr. Garro, 52, was the Mayor of La Plata, Buenos Aires, from 2015 to 2023. He has a law degree and was appointed Deputy Minister of Sports of Argentina in March 2024, but only held the position for four months before losing his job. The decision was made by the Office of the Government of this country less than a day after he criticized the actions of Enzo Fernandez and his teammates.

On the morning of July 17, Mr. Garro answered the Urbana Play radio channel, saying that captain Messi and President of the Argentine Football Federation Claudio Tapia "must come forward and apologize". "This has put a glorious country like Argentina in a bad situation. Their apology will help set an example, so that society can see that football also needs forgiveness", he added.

Hours later, he took to social media to deny what he had said. "I categorically deny asking Messi to apologise," he wrote. "It would be disrespectful to someone who has always honoured the national team with his human and sporting qualities."

Mr. Garro's statement reached the heads of the Argentine government during the day. President Javier Milei shared a post on social media saying that "saying that Messi should apologize to a European colonial country for a song that only states the truth is contrary to the ideology of President Milei, so Garro should be removed from office."

Vice President Victoria Villarruel also spoke out on social media, defending Fernandez and his teammates. "We have never imposed our way of life on anyone, and we will not allow anyone to do that to us," she wrote. "No country can threaten us with a song that speaks only of truths they refuse to acknowledge. Enough of the pretense of outrage, hypocrites. Enzo, I support you. Messi, thank you for everything."

Olympic coach Javier Mascherano also backed Fernandez, saying racism does not exist in Argentina. "We have to understand the culture of each country," Mascherano said. "Sometimes a joke can be misunderstood. I know Enzo is a good guy."

Fernandez and several other Argentine players are being investigated by Chelsea and FIFA for chanting: "They play for France but they are from Angola. Their mothers are Nigerian, their fathers are Cameroonian, but their passports are French", while on the bus to the airport in Florida to return to Buenos Aires, with the 2024 Copa America championship. Messi was not on this bus.

Fernandez has been unfollowed on social media by Chelsea's French players Axel Disasi, Wesley Fofana and Malo Gusto. He has also apologised, saying "there is no excuse for this".