Fofana’s late apology and reaction

It was meant to be a cheerful chant after the joy of winning the America’s Cup but what can be heard in a video released online by Argentina player Enzo Fernandez risks causing a lot of trouble for the player and his teammates. the vulgar and racist content that is outraging France and the entire world of football.

Fernandez’s Instagram Live

There is no peace for the America’s Cup even after the tournament is over. After the controversy over Bielsa’s outbursts, the accusations against the organization, the massive brawl involving Uruguay’s players and the terrible incidents before, during and after the final between Argentina and Colombia, a new case has broken out. Here’s what happened: after singing the symbolic chant of this America’s victory, the Argentine national team sang another against the team defeated in the Qatar 2022 final and in particular Mbappé, a little song that the South American fans in the stands were already singing at the time. This was demonstrated by Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who interrupted the live Instagram shortly before the second part of the chorus, with racist and homophobic content.

The racist choir accused

In the video, recorded on the microphone when the champion team returned to the hotel in Miami, a teammate warns Enzo to stop the live broadcast, but before the images stop, the words can be clearly heard. This is the incriminating chant: “They play for France but they come from Angola, they run well, they like f… with trans. His mother is Nigerian, his father is Cameroonian, but on his passport it says: French.”

Chelsea players’ reaction

The video quickly went around the world, outraging everyone but especially the players of Chelsea, Fernandez’s team. In fact, six French players play for the Blues: Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu and Christopher Nkunku, who were decidedly irritated by what had been circulating online and by the behavior of their teammate. The result? Gusto, Alex Disasi and Wesley Fofana immediately unfollowed the midfielder on social mediawho now risks a heavy disqualification.

This is the press release from the French Football Federation: “The President of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, condemns in the strongest terms the unacceptable racist and discriminatory comments that were made against the players of the French team in the context of a chant sung by players and fans of the Argentine team after its victory in the Copa America and broadcast in a video on social networks. Faced with the gravity of these shocking remarks, contrary to the values ​​of sport and human rights, the president of the FFF has decided to directly confront his Argentine counterpart and FIFA and file a legal complaint for racist and discriminatory insults”.

Fernandez’s Apology in English

Fernandez, when he realized he had made a big mistake, apologized with a post in English, on his Instagram account, for the scandal generated by the live video, writing: “I want to sincerely apologize for a video published 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 am against discrimination in all its forms and I apologize for having been carried away by the euphoria of the Copa América celebrations. That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character. I am very sorry”.