Argentina sacks Julio Garro over Messi racism row

The Argentina government on Thursday sacked its Undersecretary for Sports, Julio Garro, after he demanded an apology from national football team captain Lionel Messi for the racism chants controversy during the Copa America victory celebrations, Report informs via The Indian Express.

Shortly after Garro’s statements were aired, Argentina President Javier Millei’s Office stated on X that: “No government can tell what to comment, what to think or what to do to the Argentine National Team, World Champion and Two-time American Champion, or to any other citizen. For this reason, Julio Garro ceases to be Undersecretary of Sports of the Nation.”

Garro soon apologized for his statement, saying that “offending anyone was never my intention, and that is why I have offered my resignation, although I will always be on the other side of discrimination in all its forms.”