New Delhi: Argentina’s Copa America title has been marred by controversy after a video of Enzo Fernandez that has gone viral. The Argentine sang racist chants about the French national anthem alongside his other teammates.
Acting to that, Chelsea stated they have opened “internal disciplinary proceedings”. Their statement read: “Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable. We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome.”
“We acknowledge and appreciate our player’s public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate. The club has instigated an internal disciplinary procedure.”
Chelsea FC has published the following statement…
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 17, 2024
Before the official Chelsea statement, Fernandez took to Instagram to apologise sincerely for the video. Here is his Instagram story screenshot
The chants came out through Enzo Fernandez’s live Instagram broadcast in which the squad was seen chanting racist remarks about the French players, saying, “They play for France, but they are from Angola. His mother is Nigerian, and his father is Cameroonian. But their passport says, French.”
Shortly after Chelsea’s statement, FIFA also confirmed they are looking into the incident. A FIFA spokesperson said, “FIFA is aware of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being looked into. FIFA strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anyone including players, fans, and officials.”
The French Football Federation filed a legal complaint about the incident and even called the action “unacceptable, racist and discriminatory”.
Wesley Fofana his club teammate also posted a video of him on his social media with the caption: “Football in 2024: uninhibited racism”. Alongside him, Axel Disas and Malo Gusto also unfollowed Enzo Fernandez on Instagram after the incident. This adds tension in Chelsea’s dressing room without a ball being kicked this season.
The Argentina Football Association and CONMEBOL have yet to react on the same.
Why the offensive chants?
While the exact reasons behind the racist chants remain unclear, it’s necessary to get to the root cause and take urgent action. The euphoric atmosphere of a victory often fueled by alcohol can amplify existing biases and lead to such despicable behavior. Still, it’s crucial to emphasize that there is absolutely no justification for racism and such incidents highlight the urgent need of call to action.
Chelsea takes action against Argentine star Enzo Fernandez for shocking racist chants aimed at French players during Copa America celebrations. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
