Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez responds with message on Instagram after controversy over racist chants aimed at France
Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez apologised with a message on Instagram story on July 17 after he received widespread criticism for his participation in racist chants aimed at the France national team during Argentina’s 2024 Copa America victory celebrations.
Fernandez had shared a video of him and his Argentine teammates in a bus singing a racist song about French players. Taking to his Instagram story, Fernandez apologised for the chants, admitting that he was taken away by the celebrations and that it doesn’t represent his values or character. He posted (as per Albiceleste Talk):
“I want to apologise sincerely 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.
Three Chelsea stars unfollowed Enzo Fernandez on Instagram following his racist chants against France Chelsea stars Wesley Fofana, Male Gusto and Axel Dissasi reportedly unfollowed Enzo Fernandez on Instagram after he shared a video of the Argentina team singing racist chants aimed at France. All three of them are Black players from the French team.
Fofana also took to social media to openly criticise his Chelsea teammate, calling him out for his uninhibited racism. “Football in 2024: uninhibited racism” Fofana wrote on X.
The derogatory song included lyrics aimed at the French players’ African heritage. As per Metro, the lyrics of the song translates roughly to:
“Listen, spread the word. They play in France, but they are all from Angola. They are going to run well. They like to sleep with trans people. Their mum is Nigerian. Their dad is Cameroonian, but on the passport, it says: French.”
The France Football Federation also condemned Enzo Fernandez’s video in and said that they would take legal action against the Argentine players for their racist and discriminatory behaviour. It remains to be seen how FIFA reacts to the incident.
