Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has slammed his membership teammate Enzo Fernandez and the Copa America-winning Argentina workforce for his or her racist chants targetting France gamers.
In a video shared by Fernandez on his Instagram account following Argentina’s 1-0 closing win over Colombia on Sunday, the 23-year-old and his teammates are seen singing racist and discriminatory chants. A few of the deregatory verses within the track had been: “They play for France, however their mother and father are from Angola. Their mom is from Cameroon, whereas their father is from Nigeria. However their passport says French.”
The track additionally had derogatory references about France and Actual Madrid ahead Kylian Mbappe’s reference to transgender mannequin Ines Rau.
France launch robust response
The remarks have reportedly irked the French contingent inside Chelsea. The workforce contains a number of French Black gamers, together with Christopher Nkunku, Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile.
Taking to X, Fofana captioned Fernandez’s video: “Soccer in 2024 – uninhibited racism.” Barcelona and France defender Jules Kounde labelled the video “lamentable” on social media.
The France Soccer Affiliation (FFF) has additionally issued its assertion with president Philippe Diallo difficult FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Argentina Soccer Affiliation president, Claudio Fabian Tapia, to answer the remarks within the footage. FFF additionally confirmed that it’s going to file an official grievance over the video.
“The president of the French Soccer Federation, Philippe Diallo, condemns within the strongest phrases the unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks which had been made towards the gamers of the French workforce within the context of a track sung by gamers and supporters of the Argentina workforce after its victory within the Copa América and broadcast in a video on social media.
“Confronted with the seriousness of those surprising remarks, opposite to the values of sport and human rights, the president of the FFF determined to instantly problem his Argentinian counterpart and Fifa, and to file a authorized grievance for insulting remarks of a racist and discriminatory nature,” the FFF assertion learn.
Fernandez points apology
In the meantime, Fernandez issued an apology on his social media account on Wednesday. “I need to apologise sincerely for a video posted on my Instagram channel throughout the nationwide workforce celebrations. The track contains extremely offensive language and there may be completely no excuse for these phrases.
“I stand towards discrimination in all types and apologise for getting caught up within the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations. That video, that second, these phrases, don’t replicate my beliefs or my character. I’m really sorry,” wrote Fernandez.