French Embassy declares Argentine vice-governor persona non grata; condemns comment about its selection

France's embassy in Argentina has declared a regional official persona non grata within its premises and in bilateral cooperation contexts, following a tweet in which she insulted the French national football team. Hebe Casado, the vice-governor of Mendoza province, posted on X after France's World Cup victory over Paraguay, calling the French team an "ill-mannered African team" and expressing dislike for player Mbappé.

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The French ambassador to Argentina, Romain Nadal, denounced declarations whose "racist character leaves no room for doubt" and that "disqualify (the vice-governor) from working with the embassy or participating in meetings in which the embassy is present."

The French ambassador to Argentina, Romain Nadal, denounced the comments, describing them as "undoubtedly racist" and stating they disqualify Casado from working with the embassy or attending meetings where embassy representatives are present. He emphasized that racism is a crime and has no place in Franco-Argentine cooperation. Consequently, the embassy informed Casado that she is unwelcome and instructed its teams to avoid any cooperation meetings with Mendoza province if she were to attend, unless she retracts her statements.

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Racism is not an opinion, it is a crime. There is no place for racism in Franco-Argentine cooperation.

Casado has rejected the accusations, defending her remarks as part of "football folklore" and denying any discriminatory intent. She claimed her comments were sarcastic and that "only intelligent people understand sarcasm." She also argued that she was mocking political correctness, stating that "everyone has thought it" about France being an "African team."

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We are proud of our diversity and will not tolerate this or any attempt to denigrate or deny the nationality of our players. How can an official from a country like Argentina, which proudly claims to have welcomed migration with open arms, criticize another team whose players are also the product of immigration?

Ambassador Nadal countered that France is proud of its diversity and will not tolerate attempts to denigrate or question the nationality of its players. He questioned how an official from Argentina, a country that embraces immigration, could criticize another team whose players are also products of immigration. Casado's message initially drew less attention than similar insulting remarks made by a Paraguayan senator about Kylian Mbappé, which had already provoked strong reactions from the French team captain, governments, FIFA, and the UN.

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Only intelligent people understand sarcasm.