Chelsea is investigating a video posted by Enzo Fernandez, allegedly showing Argentina's national team singing a racist song targeting French players. The French Football Federation has condemned the incident and plans to file a legal complaint. Wesley Fofana, Fernandez's teammate, also criticized the video for promoting racism.
Chelsea has initiated an investigation into a video posted by midfielder Enzo Fernandez, which the French Football Federation (FFF) claims shows Argentina's national team singing a racist song. Fernandez shared the video on Instagram following Argentina's Copa America victory over Colombia. The footage allegedly features chants targeting the French national team, including racist and discriminatory remarks.
Fernandez's Chelsea teammate, Wesley Fofana, reacted by reposting the video with the caption: "Football in 2024: uninhibited racism." The FFF has condemned the video, stating that the song sung by the Argentine players and supporters is unacceptable and goes against the values of sport and human rights.
In an official statement, FFF President Philippe Diallo expressed his strong disapproval of the remarks, emphasizing their seriousness. He stated, "The president of the French Football Federation condemns in the strongest terms the unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks made against the players of the French team in the context of a song sung by players and supporters of the Argentina team after its victory in the Copa America and broadcast in a video on social media."
Diallo further announced that the FFF plans to file a legal complaint with FIFA and has directly challenged his Argentinian counterpart. This move underscores the FFF's commitment to addressing the issue and ensuring that such behavior is not tolerated.
The incident has drawn significant attention, particularly given the history between Argentina and France. The two teams faced each other in the 2022 World Cup final, where Argentina triumphed in a penalty shootout. During that match, some fans were also reported to have sung discriminatory songs.
The investigation by Chelsea and the FFF's legal actions highlight the ongoing challenges in combating racism in football. Observers will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds and what measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
