Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has apologised for a social media video which the French Soccer Federation says contains an alleged ‘racist and discriminatory’ chant.
The FFF stated on Tuesday it might be complaining to FIFA over the video, which appeared to indicate a number of the Argentina squad singing about France’s gamers amid celebrations after their 1-0 Copa America Last win over Colombia in Miami within the early hours of Monday.
🚨 Enzo Fernández assertion to apologize after racist chants. pic.twitter.com/IW1uDPoPne
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 16, 2024
Fernandez’s Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana, a France worldwide, took to social media to repost a picture of the video with the caption ‘Soccer in 2024: uninhibited racism.’
He, together with teammates Axel Disasi and Malo Gusto, seem to have unfollowed 23-year-old Fernandez on social media within the wake of the video.
Chelsea issued an announcement on Wednesday saying: “Chelsea Soccer Membership finds all types of discriminatory behaviour fully unacceptable. We’re proud to be a various, inclusive membership the place individuals from all cultures, communities and identities really feel welcome.
“We acknowledge and admire our participant’s public apology and can use this as a possibility to teach.”
The Blues have additionally launched an inside disciplinary course of in opposition to Fernandez, who insists the incident ‘doesn’t replicate my character.’
Their £106.8m signing from Benfica in January 2023 returned to social media on Tuesday night time to put up: “I need to apologise sincerely for a video posted on my Instagram channel throughout the nationwide crew celebrations.
“The track contains extremely offensive language and there may be completely no excuse for these phrases.”
He added: “I stand in opposition to discrimination in all varieties 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.”
Le soccer en 2024 : racisme décomplexé 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/MGkH5wPmNU
— Wesley Fofana (@Wesley_Fofana3) July 16, 2024
An announcement from FFS president Philippe Diallo “condemns within the strongest phrases the unacceptable and discriminatory remarks that have been made in opposition to the gamers of the French crew.
“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 attraction to his Argentine counterpart and FIFA and to file a authorized criticism for racially offensive and discriminatory remarks.”
On Wednesday a spokesperson for the sport’s international governing physique stated: “FIFA is conscious of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being regarded into. FIFA strongly condemns any type of discrimination by anybody together with gamers, followers and officers.”
France beat Argentina within the final 16 of the 2018 World Cup, earlier than Argentina received their revenge within the 2022 World Cup Last.
