Featured Image Credit: Getty Images
Topics: Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez, Premier League, France, Argentina, Copa America
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez, Premier League, France, Argentina, Copa America
Chelsea have issued a statement after Enzo Fernandez filmed himself and his Argentina teammates singing an alleged 'racist' song about the France national team.
Fernandez went live on Instagram following La Albiceleste's Copa America final win over Colombia on Sunday evening.
Here, a number of Argentina players were heard chanted a song that singles out French players with family connections across a number of African nations and who hold a French passport.
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The lyrics to the chant were: “They play for France, but their parents are from Angola. Their mother is from Cameroon, while their father is from Nigeria. But their passport says French.”
On Tuesday afternoon, a statement from The France Football Federation said that president Philippe Diallo "condemns in the strongest terms the unacceptable and discriminatory remarks that were made against the players of the French team".
It added that the FFF would file a complaint to FIFA for the "racially offensive and discriminatory remarks."
Fernandez, who started for Argentina in their 1-0 win over Colombia, released a statement of his own in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
"I want to apologise sincerely for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations," he wrote.
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"The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words. I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologise for getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations.
"That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character. I am truly sorry."
Chelsea have since outlined their decision to instigate an internal disciplinary procedure following the incident.
"Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable. We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome," they wrote in a statement.
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"We acknowledge and appreciate our player’s public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate. The Club has instigated an internal disciplinary procedure."
The video has received a huge amount of backlash since it was broadcast on Sunday.
Fernandez's club teammate Wesley Fofana condemned the clip, saying: "Le football en 2024: racisme decomplexe," which translates to: "Football in 2024: uninhibited racism."
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France international Jules Kounde also reacted to the footage by describing it as "lamentable".
All of Chelsea's French players – Wesley Fofana, Axel Disassi, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku and Malang Sarr – have unfollowed Fernandez on social media, according to talkSPORT.