Fifa has launched an inquiry into claims of racist abuse involving American influencer IShowSpeed and a supporter during Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Cape Verde on Friday.
IShowSpeed—real name Darren Jason Watkins Jr—has 57 million YouTube subscribers and 53 million TikTok followers, and has been live-streaming tournament games. Fifa president Gianni Infantino and former Barcelona and AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic have appeared in some of his streams.
Football’s governing body said it was alerted to an alleged incident at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on 3 July, where the last-32 match was played, and “immediately initiated an investigation.” Video on IShowSpeed’s YouTube channel shows the 21-year-old wearing a Cape Verde shirt and confronting an Argentina fan in the stands.
“The Fifa World Cup is a celebration of unity, diversity and respect,” Fifa said. “Anyone who acts in a manner that undermines these values is not welcome in our game.”
The incident follows France forward Kylian Mbappe calling a Paraguayan senator “despicable” and unfit for office after she posted racist remarks about his background and education. Celeste Amarilla of the Liberal Radical Party made the comments on X after Paraguay’s last-16 defeat to France. The French Football Federation says it will file criminal charges, calling her statements “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable.”