Canada Soccer says it is “deeply disturbed” by racial abuse directed at one of its players after Thursday’s Copa America opener against Argentina.
Canada did not name the player, but defender Moise Bombito received racist comments on his Instagram page after his team’s 2-0 loss. The 24-year-old had attracted attention after a tackle on Argentina captain Lionel Messi, where he caught the 36-year-old on the ankle.
Messi received treatment after the challenge but was medically cleared to continue, assisting Argentina’s second goal of the game in the 88th minute.
Canada condemned the racist abuse in a statement that read: “Canada Soccer is aware of and deeply disturbed by the racist comments made online directed at one of our men’s national team players following tonight’s match. We are in contact with CONCACAF and CONMEBOL on this matter.
Bombito later responded to the abuse on Instagram, posting: “My beautiful Canada. There is no room for this BS.”
Bombito and Messi during the match (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
The Athlete Meta — which owns Instagram — has reached out to CONMEBOL and CONCACAF for comment on the comments on Bombito’s profile.
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Meanwhile, France trio Aurelien Tchouameni, Kingsley Coman and Randal Kolo Muani were racially abused on their social media accounts following their national team’s 2022 World Cup final defeat to Argentina.
There were also reports of racist chants in the streets of Buenos Aires by Argentina fans during their 2022 World Cup victory celebrations and effigies of France captain Kylian Mbappe appeared on social media with one set of fans holding an inflatable effigy carried by Mbappe’s dummy. rope name tag. another set fire to a pretend coffin lid with the attacker’s face on it.
Thursday night’s game at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Arena saw goals from Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez secure a 2-0 win and a winning start for Argentina’s Copa América defence.
Lionel Scaloni’s side face Chile in their next group game on Tuesday, while Canada play Peru earlier in the day.
(Top photo: Omar Vega/Getty Images)
