Chelsea condemn ‘all forms of discriminatory behaviour’ after Enzo Fernandez is accused of ‘uninhibited racism’ by team-mate Wesley Fofana following controversial Argentina song
Chelsea have released a statement following the video posted by midfielder Enzo Fernandez, condemning ‘all forms’ of discriminatory behaviour.
The Argentine star and several of his teammates sang a controversial song claiming that French players are “from Angola” or have a “Nigerian” mother and a “Cameroonian” father.
The Chelsea player was subsequently accused of ‘rampant racism’ by his France team-mate Wesley Fofana, with a number of other Blues players unfollowing Fernandez on social media.
“Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable. We pride ourselves on being a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome,” the club’s statement began.
‘We acknowledge and appreciate our player’s public apology and will use this as an opportunity to inform ourselves.
Enzo Fernandez filmed a video of the Argentina team chanting a racist slogan about France
Wesley Fofana reposted the video via X with the text: ‘Football in 2024: unbridled racism’
Chelsea confirmed in their statement that they have started an internal disciplinary procedure
‘The Club has initiated an internal disciplinary procedure.’
The song was sung and sung by a number of the Albiceleste players on the team bus in celebration of the second consecutive Copa America title on Sunday.
Chelsea have a host of French players in their squad, including Fofana, Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile.
Fofana, Disasi and Gusto have all unfollowed Fernandez on Instagram.
Mail Sport previously reported that sources close to the players have revealed that Chelsea’s French squad is furious with Fernandez.
Fernandez himself posted his apology on Tuesday evening, albeit with a delay, writing: ‘I would like to apologize for a video I posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations.
“The song contains very offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words. I am against discrimination in any form and I apologize for having been 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.”
Fernandez apologized in a statement of his own on Tuesday evening, claiming he was “caught up in the euphoria” of winning the Copa America
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, who also plays for France, has expressed his disgust at the video. He is one of three Blues players to unfollow Fernandez on Instagram
Malo Gusto (right) has also unfollowed Fernandez (left) on Instagram
Axel Disasi (left) is the other Chelsea player to unfollow Fernandez after he filmed the Argentine chant
Footage from Fernandez’s video shows the team singing at least the Angola part of the song while he grins, but he stops before they reach the part about Kylian Mbappe.
Only one player in France’s 2022 World Cup squad, Eduardo Camavinga, was born in Angola.
Chelsea star Fernandez was already filming before the Argentina players started singing this particular song, but ended the live broadcast on Instagram seconds after the racist chant started.
French Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo called the images “racist and discriminatory” and vowed to take legal action and file a complaint with FIFA.
“Given the seriousness of these shocking comments, which are contrary to the values of sport and human rights, the President of the FFF has decided to denounce his Argentine counterpart and FIFA directly and to file a legal complaint for offensive comments of a racist and discriminatory nature,” the FFF said.
The song was first sung around the 2022 World Cup, when Argentina defeated France on penalties in the final in Qatar.
The match had already taken on a grim atmosphere after Mbappé was the target of intense insults from Emiliano Martinez after the match, despite the French striker scoring a hat-trick and winning a penalty in the shootout.
Chelsea star Fernandez was already filming before the Argentina players started singing this particular song, but ended the live broadcast on Instagram seconds after the racist chant started.
French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo called the images “racist and discriminatory” and vowed to take legal action.
Fernandez has apologized on social media for his actions after Argentina’s victory
The song came into public consciousness when Argentine fans chanted it on TV during the 2022 World Cup
It is claimed that the French squad are ‘all from Angola’ and that they ‘fuck transgenders like that f***ing Mbappe’
Sources at Chelsea say they are taking the matter seriously and will take action.
It came 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 filed a civil suit against Chelsea over their treatment by Gwyn Williams, who was reportedly given a secret lifetime ban by the FA, and Graham Rix, who was jailed for underage sex offences. Each former player was awarded a six-figure sum.