Chelsea have launched an investigation after Enzo Fernandez posted a video of Argentina’s players appearing to sing a ‘racist and discriminatory’ chant. The Stamford Bridge club is looking into the incident after the footage surfaced online.
During the celebrations of Argentina’s Copa América win over Colombia, footage from Enzo Fernandez’s live Instagram broadcast captured the squad changing the first part of a controversial song. “On passport, French nationality, listen, spread the word, they play in France, but they are all…” before the recording is abruptly stopped with someone instructing to “cut the video.”
The rest of the chant, which was not recorded, allegedly includes offensive lines: “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 leaked video has sparked outrage within the French Football Federation (FFF), prompting president Philippe Diallo to demand a response from both FIFA and the Argentinian Football Association regarding the conduct.
“The president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, condemns in the strongest terms the unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks made against the players of the French team in the context of a song sung by players and supporters of the Argentina team after its victory in the Copa América and broadcast in a video on social media,” a statement read.
“Faced with the seriousness of these shocking remarks, contrary to the values of sport and human rights, the president of the FFF decided to directly challenge his Argentine counterpart and FIFA and to file a legal complaint for insulting remarks of a racial and discriminatory nature.”
Chelsea’s investigation will determine the next steps regarding Fernandez’s involvement in the incident as the club maintains its stance against racism and discrimination in all forms.
