French Embassy in Argentina slams Mendoza official's ‘racist’ remarks

France's Embassy in Argentina has strongly condemned remarks made by Mendoza Province Deputy Governor Hebe Casado, who described the French national football team as an "ill-mannered African team" following the side's victory over Paraguay last week at the 2026 World Cup.

On Sunday, the Embassy said Casado, who has defended her remarks, had been declared persona non grata on its premises and said it would not cooperate in bilateral meetings with the official.

Casado, a right-wing politician who is second-in-command in the western province, posted a message on X after France's 1-0 win over Paraguay in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, reading: "Well done Paraguay. The ill-mannered African team. I can't stand [star striker Kylian] Mbappé."

Mbappé had come under criticism after celebrating France's victory without accepting a handshake offered by Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill, following a bad-tempered clash.

Reacting to the comments, France's Ambassador to Argentina Romain Nadal posted a statement on social media condemning discrimination, alongside a screenshot of the provincial official's remarks.

"Pride in our colours can never become an excuse for discrimination. Every form of racism, anti-Semitism or discrimination based on origin, religion or personal circumstances deserves the same absolute and unequivocal rejection," wrote the ambassador.

"Compete yes. Discriminate, never. Sport should unite, not divide," he concluded.

Casado has staunchly defended herself against the backlash, posting on X that "only intelligent people understand sarcasm."

The Mendoza deputy governor defended her remarks, arguing that they should be understood in the context of football rivalry. "It's part of football folklore. It has nothing to do with racism," she said.

In a later interview with a Mendoza radio station, she again referred to France as an "African team" and mocked political correctness, arguing that "everyone" had shared the same thought.

The official's statements, which drew a fierce reaction on social media, were initially overshadowed by a similar furore caused by insulting remarks about Mbappé made by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla after the same World Cup match.

Amarilla's racist comments provoked an outraged response from the Les Bleus' captain, who posted online criticising the Paraguayan lawmaker. They were also condemned by the French and Paraguayan governments, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and even the United Nations.

‘No room for doubt’

In a statement to AFP, Ambassador Nadal said there was "no room for doubt" about the "racist character" of Casado’s remarks. He said they would "disqualify" the official "from working with the Embassy or taking part in meetings attended by the Embassy."

"Racism is not an opinion, it is a crime. There is no room for racism in Franco-Argentine cooperation," he told the news agency.

France's highest-ranking diplomat in Argentina has instructed his staff not to attend any bilateral meeting with the Mendoza Province government at which Casado is present, unless the official retracts her statements.

"We are proud of our diversity and will not tolerate this or any other attempt to denigrate or disregard our players' nationality," the ambassador said. 

"How can an official from a country like Argentina, which proudly claims to have welcomed migrants with open arms, criticise another team whose players are also the product of immigration?"

On Monday, a day after the persona non grata declaration, Casado further escalated the dispute by resharing a post on X from Javier Negre – a Spanish journalist and co-owner of La Derecha Diario, a digital outlet closely aligned with the Milei government – arguing the French squad could be considered "an African team, given the origin of its players or their parents."

Speaking to the LV10's Opinión streaming programme, Casado rejected the racism accusations outright. "Honestly, I don't see anything racist in the comment. If someone takes it as racist, it's because they consider Africans to be something inferior. I don't," she said.

 "Those who need to back down are the ones who think being African is an insult. I'm not doing that – I'm putting them in a positive light,” she claimed.

In further comments on social media, Casado described Argentina as “the least racist country in the world.”

"If there is one thing the rest of the world should learn from Argentina, it is that we were among the first countries to abolish slavery, which allowed for the mixing of races, cultures and religions. We must be the least racist country in the world," she claimed.

– TIMES/AFP/NA