Chelsea Players Outraged at Enzo Fernandez Over Discriminatory Song Following Copa America Victory
In the aftermath of Argentina’s victory over Colombia to secure their 16th Copa America title, a controversial video surfaced featuring Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez and his Argentine teammates singing a discriminatory song about the French national team.
The lyrics of the song made derogatory references to the heritage of French players, stating: “They play for France, but their parents are from Angola. Their mother is from Cameroon, while their father is from Nigeria. But their passport says French.”
Fernandez shared the footage via Instagram Live on the team bus, but quickly ended the stream as backlash began to mount on social media. The incident has sparked outrage among Chelsea’s squad, particularly among the French players, according to journalist Fabrice Hawkins.
The French Football Federation (FFF) has announced its intention to pursue legal action over what it describes as “abusive remarks of a racial and discriminatory nature.”
READ ALSO:
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Lifts Visa Ban on Nigerian Citizens
FFF President Philippe Diallo issued a strong condemnation of the Argentina players’ actions and called on both FIFA and the Argentine Football Association to take decisive measures.
In an official statement, Diallo said, “The President of the Fédération Française de Football, Philippe Diallo, condemns in the strongest possible terms the unacceptable racist and discriminatory comments made against players of the French national 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 networks.
“In view of the seriousness of these shocking remarks, which run counter to the values of sport and human rights, the President of the FFF has decided to take his Argentine counterpart and FIFA directly to court and to file a complaint for racially offensive and discriminatory remarks.”
“Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana also responded to the incident by posting a clip of Fernandez singing on Instagram, captioned: “Football in 2024. Unabashed racism.”
As Fernandez prepares to return to Chelsea for pre-season training, the reaction from his club and teammates remains uncertain. The football community awaits a response from FIFA and the Argentine Football Association regarding the FFF’s appeal for action against the discriminatory behavior.