One player has become the first Argentina star to speak out about the row regarding Enzo Fernandez' chant video.
Following Argentina's 1-0 win against Colombia in the Copa America final on Sunday, Fernandez and his teammates live-streamed themselves chanting what the French Football Federation (FFF) has labelled a ‘racist and discriminatory song’.
The lyrics of the chant mock the background of French players, and there is one lyric that is transphobic.
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The FFF has lodged a legal complaint with FIFA, and several French players have called out Fernandez on social media.
That includes his French Chelsea teammates, who unfollowed the midfielder on Instagram.
Wesley Fofana shared to X a clip of Fernandez' video with the caption: "Football in 2024: uninhibited racism". Fofana was then subjected to racist abuse.
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On Tuesday, Fernandez issued a statement that read: "I want to apologise 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. I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologise for getting 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' teammate Rodrigo De Paul has become the first Argentine player to publicly address the incident, but he didn't exactly apologise.
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In fact, the Atletico Madrid star argued that Fofana should not have publicly called out Fernandez over the chant.
"I understand that people who have suffered from racism might not like it. But I think if any of Enzo's [Chelsea] teammates feel offended, the way is to call him, not post it on social media," De Paul said during an appearance on OLGA, and Argentine streaming channel.
"I think there’s malice in this; they’re trying to make it something it’s not. It’s very strange, like kicking someone when they’re down.
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"Unfollowing him seems pointless to me. You can call him and say ‘this isn’t okay, why don’t you post a message apologising?’, and the issue ends there."
Topics: Racism, Football, Argentina, France, Copa America, Enzo Fernandez
Alex Brotherton