"Uninhibited racism" - Chelsea star calls out club teammate Enzo Fernandez and Argentina stars for racist chants after Copa America
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has called out club teammate Enzo Fernandez and a contingent of the Argentina national team for their racist chants. After winning Copa America 2024, the Argentine players left the stadium on the team bus, where celebrations continued. However, things took a bizarre turn.
The players began to sing racist chants directed at the African ancestry of some players in the France national team, while Fernandez was live on Instagram. The song, which had been chanted by Argentina supporters during the World Cup in 2022, has these lyrics (via Metro):
"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 derogatory song has reportedly not sat well with the French contingent of Chelsea players who have shared a dressing room with Enzo Fernandez. This is according to Fabrice Hawkins (via CFCPys on X). Trouble is brewing, with Fofana openly slamming the video.
The Blues defender posted on social media:
"Football in 2024: uninhibited racism"
Chelsea will be expected to deal with the matter, internally at least, with the players coming together for pre-season.
It is worth noting that the Blues have several black players who are French, including Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, and Christopher Nkunku.
France Football Federation officially react to Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez
The France Football Federation has provided an official statement, following the release of the shocking live Instagram video from Enzo Fernandez.
The federation has made it known that it is offended by the video, stating:
"...in the strongest terms the unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks which were made against the players of the French team in the context of a chant sung by players and supporters of the Argentina team after its victory in the Copa America and broadcast in a video on social networks."
It added that the FFF president Philippe Diallo had decided to "directly challenge his Argentine counterpart". The statement noted that it would take the matter up to FIFA while taking legal action for "insulting comments of a racial and discriminatory nature."
Enzo Fernandez may need to provide a public apology, especially as the dressing room chants have eroded the dressing room atmosphere at Chelsea.