Argentina players have kicked up a storm after a video of them singing highly objectionable chants about French players surfaced.
The French Football Federation (FFF) has said it will file a legal complaint over alleged "racially offensive and discriminatory remarks" made by Argentina players following their Copa America victory over Colombia on Sunday.
A video posted on Instagram by Argentina and Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez showed the Argentina players appearing to sing about French players with African heritage.
Some players, including Fernandez, can be heard singing a chant apparently aimed at France's star striker Kylian Mbappe and includes other insults.
"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 and to file a legal complaint for racial and discriminatory offensive remarks," the FFF said in a statement.
Fernandez's Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana also criticised the video on social media.
"Football in 2024: racism without a complex," the French international said on X, formerly Twitter.
French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera also urged football's governing body Fifa to take action.
"Pathetic. Behaviour all the more unacceptable because it is repeated," Oudea-Castera wrote on X.
Fernandez later apologised for the video.
"The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words," Fernandez said on Instagram.
"I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologise for getting caught up in the euphoria of our celebrations. That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character."
Argentina and France have had a heated rivalry since the South Americans' last 16 elimination to eventual champions France at the 2018 World Cup. The Argentines then defeated France in a penalty shoot-out in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.
The incident has taken some sheen off what was a memorable day for Argentina and Lionel Messi.
Messi was in tears as he watched his team battle for victory from the sidelines. Injury prevented him from finishing what was likely his last match for Argentina at a major tournament but his teammates delivered the Copa America title.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner hurt his ankle in the 36th minute of the final against Colombia but soldiered on until the 66th minute when he limped off the field in tears, before strapping an ice pack to his swollen ankle on the bench.
With the game finely poised, Argentina raised their game and Lautaro Martinez struck in extra time to secure a 1-0 victory and a record 16th Copa title.
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Fight card
Preliminaries:
Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)
Main card:
Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)
Title card:
Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)
Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)
Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)
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Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
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Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
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Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
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Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
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The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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