Michael Abrahams | Why is Argentina so hated?

At this edition of the FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup, Argentina has attracted an extraordinary amount of hostility. Many Argentine supporters dismiss detractors as “haters” driven by envy of Lionel Messi and the team’s achievements. 
Messi is the most decorated football player in history and has been declared by many pundits to be the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), while Argentina entered the competition as reigning World Cup and Copa América champions and ranked number one in the world. This magnitude of success can indeed breed envy. However, not all criticism of Argentina is rooted in jealousy. Many observers have specific reasons for their disdain for La Albiceleste.
HISTORY OF CONTROVERSY AND CHEATING 
Argentina’s World Cup history includes several controversial incidents. At the 1978 World Cup, hosted by Argentina, FIFA rejected Brazil’s request for their final second-round match against Poland to be played simultaneously with Argentina’s fixture against Peru. Argentina was allowed to play after Brazil’s match, giving them the unfair advantage of knowing the goal difference required to eliminate Brazil, which was four goals. They subsequently beat Peru in a controversial 6-0 victory and advanced to the final. In 1986, at the World Cup in Mexico, Diego Maradona used his left hand to score the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal in Argentina’s 2-1 quarterfinal win over England.
At Italia ‘90, Brazilian midfielder Branco alleged that he became dizzy and nearly fainted after drinking water given to him by the Argentine bench during Brazil’s Round of 16 match against Argentina, which Argentina won 1-0. In 2005, while speaking on an Argentinian television programme, Maradona confirmed that Branco was deliberately given water that had been laced with Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), a powerful tranquilliser commonly known as a ‘date rape’ drug.
RACISM
While racism exists globally, and many countries have histories of colonising and enslaving people, Argentina’s history includes the state-sponsored policy of blanqueamiento (racial whitening), which sought to erase the country’s black population. The policy reduced that population from roughly 30 per cent in 1800 to less than one per cent by the mid-20th century. Methods used included the disproportionate conscription of black men into the military, massive European immigration, cultural erasure, and census undercounting. Racially insensitive attitudes have also been expressed publicly by senior political leaders. In 1996, former Argentine President Carlos Menem declared, “In Argentina, blacks do not exist, that is a Brazilian problem”. In 2021, then-President Alberto Fernández stated, “Mexicans came from the Indians, the Brazilians came from the jungle, but we Argentines came from the ships.”
Following the 2024 Copa América victory, midfielder Enzo Fernández livestreamed teammates singing a racist chant targeting France’s black players. When Sports Undersecretary Julio Garro suggested that Messi and the Argentine Football Association should apologise to the French Football Federation, he was dismissed by President Javier Milei for making the suggestion. Racism is exhibited at multiple levels in Argentina.
THE FANS
Argentina’s supporters have developed a reputation for disorderly and offensive behaviour. The racist chant livestreamed by Fernández originated among fans after the 2022 World Cup final. During this World Cup, Cape Verde and Egypt supporters reported racist abuse and being pelted with bottles and beer at matches between Argentina and their countries. 
A female Argentine fan racially abused YouTuber IShowSpeed, who was also struck in the head by an object thrown from the crowd. Rival factions of Argentine supporters were involved in street fights in Atlanta, where a male supporter was arrested for racially abusing a female police officer, and others were filmed spitting on and trampling an English flag in Times Square.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE BEHAVIOUR
The uncouth behaviour extends to some of the players, too. Besides the Fernández incident, winger Gianluca Prestianni was sanctioned by UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) earlier this year for directing a homophobic slur at Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League match. Following Argentina’s winning goal against England in their semi-final at this World Cup, unused substitute Valentín Barco ran onto the pitch to taunt England’s players. 
During the final, where Argentina committed 25 fouls, the most in any match in this tournament, Enzo Fernández was sent off after receiving two yellow cards, while Leandro Paredes, who was shown a yellow card during the match, received a red card after the final whistle for physically assaulting several Spanish players. Argentina committed 113 fouls during the tournament, the highest total among the four semi-finalists, all of whom played the maximum eight matches.
PERCEPTION OF FAVOURITISM
Many believe that the Argentina team has benefited from decisions made by FIFA and match officials in this World Cup that may have been biased in its favour. Some argue that Argentina was assigned to an unusually easy tournament bracket. Others point to numerous highly contentious refereeing decisions, including several VAR (Video Assistant Referee) interventions, and the statistics show that Argentina was the only quarter-finalist without a single VAR decision going against them.
Many observers likewise believe Lionel Messi has long enjoyed exceptional treatment from referees and other officials. During Argentina’s 2022 World Cup quarter-final against the Netherlands, Messi deliberately handled the ball in midfield to stop play but escaped punishment. Former referee Carlos Chandía confessed on ESPN’s FShow that he intentionally chose not to issue Messi a yellow card for another deliberate handball during the 2007 Copa América semi-final because doing so would have suspended him for the final. Chandía acknowledged that, in return, he requested Messi’s match-worn jersey, which he said was later delivered to him by Messi in the dressing room.
Now that Argentina has been defeated by Spain in this year’s World Cup final, many supporters around the world are celebrating not only Spain’s triumph but also Argentina’s downfall. Given the controversies, behaviour, and perceptions outlined above, that reaction is understandable.
Michael Abrahams is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, social commentator, and human-rights advocate. Send feedback to [email protected] and [email protected], or follow him on X @mikeyabrahams.