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 mentioned on Tuesday it might be complaining to FIFA over the video, which appeared to point out a few 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 a press release 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 respect our participant’s public apology and can use this as a chance to teach.”
The Blues have additionally launched an inside disciplinary course of towards Fernandez, who insists the incident ‘doesn’t mirror my character.’
Their £106.8m signing from Benfica in January 2023 returned to social media on Tuesday evening to put up: “I need to apologise sincerely for a video posted on my Instagram channel in the course of the nationwide group celebrations.
“The track contains extremely offensive language and there may be completely no excuse for these phrases.”
He added: “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 mirror my beliefs or my character. I’m actually 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 had been made towards the gamers of the French group.
“Confronted with the seriousness of those stunning remarks, opposite to the values of sport and human rights, the president of the FFF determined to immediately attraction to his Argentine counterpart and FIFA and to file a authorized grievance for racially offensive and discriminatory remarks.”
On Wednesday a spokesperson for the sport’s world governing physique mentioned: “FIFA is conscious of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being seemed 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 bought their revenge within the 2022 World Cup Last.
