Last Friday, in a match valid for the quarterfinals of men’s soccer at the Olympics, France eliminated Argentina with a heated 1-0 win. After the duel, Otamendi, defender and captain of the Argentine national team in the competition, criticized the French team’s celebrations in a post-match interview. Soon after, he was responded to by Cédric Doumbè, former kickboxer and mixed martial arts fighter.
“I am very angry that they went to the place where our family was and made fun of them. I was very angry. They can party wherever they want, make fun of whoever they want, but they celebrate in front of our family… There was a Frenchman, I don’t even know his name, but if they want to party, they can come to where we are and we will sort things out there,” said Otamendi.
900,000 fans in Paris!
What a unique atmosphere, you got our hearts ♥️#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/ZGnnMgzvCl— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) August 4, 2024
Through his social networks, Doumbè, two-time middleweight champion in kickboxing, with 75 wins, one draw and only seven losses on his resume, responded to the Argentine: “Otamendi, I think you need a private conversation,” he said.
The rivalry between the French and Argentines began in 2022, in the final of the World Cup in Qatar, when Argentina was crowned champion on penalties over France. This year, after winning the Copa América over Colombia, the Albiceleste athletes once again provoked the French, but with a regrettable attitude.
In a live broadcast by midfielder Enzo Fernández on Instagram, The Argentines sang racist music in an attack on the French players, which generated a lot of negative repercussions. As a form of protest, before the most recent match at the Olympics, fans present at the stadium booed the Argentine anthem. After the final whistle, the Argentine players went after their opponents, but soon separated the athletes.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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