Enzo Fernandez has taken to social media to apologise after he was accused of ‘uninhibited racism’ by team-mate Wesley Fofana over a video he posted of the Argentina squad celebrating their Copa America triumph.
Fernandez released a statement on social media stating he ‘stands against discrimination in all forms’ and that he apologises for ‘getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations’.
The statement came after a controversial video 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, was less than impressed with the video and took to X to share the footage with the caption: ‘Football in 2024: uninhibited racism’.
Sources close to the players have told Mail Sport that Chelsea’s French contingent – which consists of Fofana, Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile – are furious with Fernandez.
Fernandez took to social media to apologise for his actions, writing: ‘I want to apologise sincerely for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations.’
He went on to add: ‘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.
While Fofana, Disasi and Gusto have all unfollowed Fernandez on Instagram.
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.
