Chelsea face a major dressing room revolt after Enzo Fernandez was accused of 'uninhibited racism' by team-mate Wesley Fofana over a video he posted of the Argentina squad celebrating their Copa America triumph.
The Blues are investigating the controversial footage which appeared to show the Argentina players singing about how French players are 'from Angola' or have a 'Nigerian' mother and a 'Cameroonian' father.
Fofana, who is French and the son of an Ivorian father, posted the video on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption: 'Football in 2024: uninhibited racism'.
Chelsea have a large number of French players among their squad including Fofana, Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile.
Sources close to the players have told Mail Sport that Chelsea's French contingent are furious with Fernandez.
Fofana, Disasi and Gusto have all unfollowed Fernandez on Instagram.
Fernandez belatedly posted an apology on Tuesday night, which read: 'I want to apologise for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations.
'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.'
The song dates back to the 2022 World Cup final in which Argentina defeated France on penalties and the players were filmed singing it after their victory over Colombia in the Copa America final on Sunday night.
French Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo branded the footage 'racist and discriminatory' and vowed to take legal action with a complaint to FIFA.
'Faced with the seriousness of these shocking remarks, contrary to the values of sport and human rights, the president of the FFF decided to directly challenge his Argentine counterpart and FIFA and to file a legal complaint for insulting remarks of a racial and discriminatory nature,' added the FFF.
Chelsea are conducting their own probe after the man they spent a British-record £107million on in January 2023 found himself at the centre of a storm. Sources at Chelsea say they are taking the matter seriously and will proceed accordingly.
It comes just months after former Chelsea player Jimmy Aggrey spoke out about the racist abuse he endured at the hands of two coaches as a teenager.
Aggrey was one of four former players who launched civil action against Chelsea over their treatment at the hands of Gwyn Williams, who was reportedly handed a secret lifetime ban by the FA, and Graham Rix, who was sent to prison for under-age sex offences. Each former player received a six-figure sum.
Leicester-ManUfan
296
racism is racism no matter what form its how does copa America related to France yes they have African roots but they're also French and it works well for them why the unprovoked chants towards them Argentina keeping showing the reason why the racist German migrated to their country after ww2 lol 😆
Richcapone442
189
The past needs to to be investigated, as part of history, Argentina have a lot of black in that country just like Brazil, Colombia and the rest Americans. But today, where are they? Today, no body ask how they disappeared from the country lineage. Argentina racist act is national/international issue, not in football alone.
I see u to be stupid, do u know how many Ghanaian were killed by the Portuguese and the rest but we don’t even talk about that Man stop that it’s everywhere read ur books well bro before yu talk shit there have to be prisons for people like u who are trying to bring hate among nations Satanic