Canada’s Moïse Bombito racially abused after tackling Lionel Messi. This is how the country responded.
Canada’s defender was racially abused following what was a heavy tackle on the world’s best player, something that in no way justifies the behavior.
Soccer is a sport that unites more countries in the world than any other. With that, it might be appropriate to spin a poetic tale about creeds and cultures and how we’re all the same. Yet, the truth is we aren’t. Some of us are very different and disgustingly so. We call those people racists.
Canada & CONCACAF release statement on Moïse Bombito racial abuse
On Friday, the Canada men’s national team released a statement in response to the racist abuse received on social media by one of the team’s players, following the side’s 2-0 loss to Argentina in the Copa América group stage on Thursday. In the statement, the team said it was “dee “deeply disturbed” by the comments, and that it was currently in communication with both CONCACAF and CONMEBOL about what the next steps would be. While the statement did not directly refer to the player by name, it is understood to be Canadian defender Moïse Bombito.
Where context is concerned, the 24-year-old defender received racist comments on his Instagram page after making a firm tackle on Argentine star and captain, Lionel Messi, knicking his ankle in the process. Messi went to ground in visible pain following the challenge. For his part, Bombito did not respond to any of the comments but did post a story on his Instagram account with the statements “My beautiful Canada, and “No room for that bs.”
CONCACAF also released its own statement on Friday, saying that it stands with Bombito while also indicating that it is working alongside CONMEBOL and FIFA to investigate the accounts responsible for the racist comments. “We will continue to use our reach to promote unity and respect,” CONCACAF wrote in the statement. Additionally, there was a statement of support from the Colorado Rapids, the team with which Bombito has played over the last two seasons. “We’re extending our love and standing beside Moïse Bombito,” the team wrote on X.
Ultimately, the incident is yet another reminder of the ugly specter of racism, one that is sadly still present in the world of soccer too often and has involved Argentina specifically before. Indeed, following the 2022 World Cup final which the South American side won, members of the French national team were targeted with racist comments including the team’s captain, Kylian Mbappe. At this point, it remains to be seen what actions will be taken against those responsible - assuming they’re identified - but before all of that Canada will have to navigate the threat posed by Peru on Tuesday, while the reining world champions will likely have a feisty affair on their hands when they face Chile that same day.