Following their Copa America opening match against Argentina on Thursday, Canada Soccer expressed being “deeply disturbed” by the racial taunts directed at one of their players.

Defender Moise Bombito faced racist remarks on his Instagram profile after his team’s 2-0 defeat; however, Canada Soccer did not specify the individual responsible. Bombito, who gained attention after tackling Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi and catching the 36-year-old on the ankle, became a focal point. Despite the challenge, Messi received treatment and was cleared to continue, eventually aiding Argentina in scoring their second goal in the 88th minute.

Canada Soccer commented, “Following tonight’s game, one of our men’s national team players received racist remarks online, which we are aware of and find extremely upsetting. We are in contact with CONMEBOL and CONCACAF regarding this issue.”

In response to the criticism, Bombito posted on Instagram, stating, “My beautiful Canada. No space for that nonsense.”

A representative from Meta, Instagram’s parent company, stated, “We have removed the offensive remarks directed at Moise Bombito on Instagram. We do not tolerate racist abuse on our platform.”

CONMEBOL issued a statement, declaring, “We denounce any displays of intolerance masquerading behind social media accounts, regardless of the form or setting.”

“As the most significant and demanding continental competition we’ve ever had, the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024, we are more committed than ever to opposing any form of racism.”

Additionally, CONCACAF released a statement saying, “We are currently collaborating with the federation, CONMEBOL, and FIFA to find ways to investigate the accounts responsible for posting racist material.”

The incident has sparked a broader conversation about racism in sports, with numerous organizations and individuals calling for stronger measures to combat such behavior. The collaboration between CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, FIFA, and social media platforms like Instagram underscores a unified approach to addressing and eliminating racist abuse in sports. As the Copa America progresses, there will be heightened vigilance and an ongoing commitment to promoting respect and inclusivity within the football community.