River Plate fans were heard repeating the racist and transphobic chant about the France team to Enzo Fernández (23) as the Chelsea player was being honoured by the Argentine club for his part in the nation’s victory in the 2024 Copa América.
Fernández and the Argentine national team have received widespread criticism after a livestream recorded by Fernández showed the squad singing the chant during their title celebrations.
The French Football Federation has referred the video to FIFA, while Fernández’s Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana (23) called the song “uninhibited racism.” Chelsea have opened an investigation into the video and are reportedly treating the incident very seriously.
A few days after the video was released, Fernández issued a statement on the matter, “I want to apologise sincerely for a video posted on my Instagram during the national team celebrations. The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for the words.”
He continued, “I stand against all discrimination in all forms and apologise for getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa América celebrations. That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or character. I am truly sorry.”
Despite this, some in Argentina have not seen the incident in the same light. The vice president of the South American nation, Victoria Villarruel, wrote a tweet expressing that the players had done nothing wrong because “no colonialist country will intimidate us for a song or for telling the truths they don’t want to admit.”
GFFN | Nick Hartland
Voeilmruy
633
People Are Saying,African Footballers Must Stay In Their Countries,But They Are Forgetting That All Of Europe Is Rich From Exploiting All The Resources Of Africa,In The Past And Today;So The Players From Africa Turn Into Europeans Because Of The Plundering Of African Riches
Ebubechukwu1996
619
if this was Portugal 🇵🇹 Ronaldo will be the bad person but since is Messi team Fifa will be blind clowns 🤡
McOBEN1992
558
These are some of the Sons and Daughters of Nazis who were on the run.
baakoz
553
Argentina was a hiding place for Nazi war criminals. That's why we love Brazil.
themainman
479
lol I can say the same thing. Colonialism is an excuse for poor development of African nations. Google it lol
here is a hint: ask France how much resources it takes from CEMAC zones while punishing them to use CFA (a low grade currency) where France doesn't use that currency.. that's just a tip of the iceberg
Jiyabdeltz
442
I wish our African brothers will remain in Africa
buhbekpru
299
why do.black people support Argentina football, they are the most racist people, certainly on the South American continent. I have never seen a black player in their national team.
Duobdkmpr
294
the whole Argentina is shit
Yorokiri
130
He better remain there on loan, this guy will disrupt the Chelsea dressing room this season...
lbcrna
98
the corruption in FIFA and the politics in football between Messi and Ronaldo has succeeded in gradually turning Argentina into an arrogant footballing nation,many people supported Argentina in Qatar world cup because of Messi, lots of fans feel Messi deserve a world cup considering what he has given to football and now Argentina players forgot the support they enjoyed from football fans all over the world, they feel since they have won the world Cup, and Copa America they can now talk to anyone anyhow,
Duobdkmpr
12
Enzo’s singlet is worth more than the lives of you & your whole family
this alone shows how immature you are as a human being zero brain can someone's singlet worth a humans life fool