Canada, CONCACAF condemn racist comments directed at player after Lionel Messi’s tackle

The Canadian men’s national team and CONCACAF have spoken out in response to racist comments on social media directed at one of their players, which began Thursday following Canada’s 2-0 defeat to Argentina in the Copa América group stage.

In a statement, Canada said it was “deeply concerned” by the comments and that the team was communicating with CONCACAF and CONMEBOL about next steps.

While the statement did not directly name the player, it is believed to refer to Canadian defender Moïse Bombito.

Bombito received racist comments on his Instagram page after tackling Argentina star Lionel Messi and hitting the 36-year-old striker on the ankle during Canada’s match against Argentina on Thursday. Messi felt pain after the contact.

Bombito did not immediately respond to the comments, but posted a story on his Instagram. “My beautiful Canada,” the 24-year-old defender wrote in the story. “No room for that bs.”

CONCACAF also issued a statement on Friday saying it stands behind Bombito and is working with CONMEBOL and FIFA to investigate the accounts that made the racist comments. “We will continue to use our reach to promote unity and respect,” CONCACAF wrote in the statement.

Colorado Rapids, where Bombito played for two seasons, also expressed its support for the defender and condemned the racist language. “We extend our love and stand with Moïse Bombito,” the team wrote on X.

A spokesperson for Meta, which owns Instagram, told The Athletic that it has removed racist comments on Bombito’s page.

The incident is reminiscent of the aftermath of the 2022 World Cup, when members of the France national team received racist messages on social media after Argentina defeated France in the World Cup final, and racist chants directed at France captain Kylian Mbappé during championship celebrations .

Canada plays Peru on Tuesday as the group stage continues, while Argentina plays Chile on the same day.