PARIS: There’s an intriguing geopolitical tussle playing out here, threatening to blow up into an embarrassing diplomatic row. And football, racism and societal change are at the heart of it. On the eve of the Olympics, Argentina are discovering that they will not be winning any friendship prizes here this fortnight. It’s ironic since locals here have been implored to shed their famous snootiness and inculcate an idea of ‘accueuillant’, or being welcoming for the Games. Argentina, in fact, will find it impossible to find any friends in the French capital, or any of the cities where Javier Mascherano’s team is playing the football competition.
On Thursday, at the Stade de France, Argentina’s Rugby 7s team — the Pumas — was roundly booed during the national anthem. It left Pumas captain Gaston Revol surprised. “I wasn’t ready or prepared for that reception,” Revol revealed.
