Argentina captain Lionel Messi© AFP

File picture of Argentina and Chelsea player Enzo Fernandez
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Chelsea has begun disciplinary action after midfielder Enzo Fernandez was involved in a video where members of Argentina’s Copa America-winning squad appeared to sing about French players with African heritage.

FIFA also said it was also looking into the incident after the French football federation pledged to file a complaint with the sport’s world governing body over “racist and discriminatory remarks.”

Fernandez said he was “truly sorry” and Chelsea said discriminatory behaviour was “completely unacceptable.”

“We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome,” the Premier League club said in a statement Wednesday. “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.”

Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 on Sunday at Miami Gardens, Florida. Afterwards a video posted on Instagram appeared to show Fernandez and Argentina players chanting about France’s team as they celebrated.

The same chants — by some Argentina fans — emerged before the team beat France in the World Cup final in 2022.

The derogatory chants single out France players of African heritage, from several countries, and holding a French passport.

Fernandez apologized for “getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations.”

“That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character,” he said on Instagram. “I am truly sorry.”

Most expensive signing

Fernandez became the most expensive player in British football history after joining Chelsea from Benfica for 106.7 million pounds ($131.4 million) in 2023.

Chelsea’s response comes after one of Fernandez’s clubmate and France defender Wesley Fofana posted the video on his social media accounts Tuesday and called it “uninhibited racism.”

Fofana has family ties to Ivory Coast and is among several French players who are Black in the Chelsea first-team squad.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said soccer and its 211 national federations must have a zero tolerance approach to racism and in May committed to relaunching a task force to monitor incidents.

“FIFA is aware of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being looked into,” the governing body said Wednesday. “FIFA strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anyone including players, fans and officials.”

It is unclear what jurisdiction FIFA has over the incident on a team bus after a tournament, but the governing body likely could act if the Argentina federation’s handling of the case is considered unsatisfactory.

File picture of Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez celebrating the Copa America win with family
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The French football federation pledged to file a complaint with FIFA over “racist and discriminatory remarks” by Argentina players in post-match chants about France’s team after their Copa America title win.

Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 on Sunday at Miami Gardens, Florida. A video posted on Instagram by Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who plays for Chelsea, and widely viewed on X showed Argentina players appearing to sing about French players with African heritage.

One of Fernandez’s Chelsea teammates, France defender Wesley Fofana, posted the Argentina team video on his social media accounts Tuesday and called it “uninhibited racism.”

Fofana, who has family ties to Ivory Coast, is among several French players who are Black in the Chelsea first-team squad.

The same chants — by some Argentina fans — emerged before France and Argentina met in the World Cup final two years ago, which Argentina won.

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“Given the seriousness of these shocking remarks, which are contrary to the values of sport and human rights, the FFF president has decided to contact its Argentinian counterpart and FIFA directly to file a legal complaint for racist and discriminatory remarks,” the French football federation said in a statement on Tuesday.

The derogatory chants single out France players of African heritage, from several countries, and holding a French passport.

“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 France team as part of a song sung by players and supporters of the Argentina team,” the FFF added.

Diallo is a member of the executive committee of European football body UEFA with a growing reputation in the game’s politics.

FIFA could not immediately confirm Tuesday if the French complaint had been filed.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said football and its 211 national federations must have a zero tolerance approach to racism and in May committed to relaunching a task force to monitor incidents.

It remains to be seen if Enzo Fernandez can recover in time for the Copa America in June.© AFP