Enzo Fernandez apologises after being accused of 'uninhibited racism' by his Chelsea team-mate Wesley Fofana and insists he is 'against discrimination in all forms' as club investigate Argentina song
- Enzo Fernandez filmed a video of his Argentina team-mates singing on Sunday
- The song, a racist chant about French players, has been widely condemned
- Wesley Fofana, a Chelsea team-mate of Fernandez, called it 'uninhibited racism'
Enzo Fernandez has taken to social media to apologise after he was accused of 'uninhibited racism' by team-mate Wesley Fofana over a video he posted of the Argentina squad celebrating their Copa America triumph.
Fernandez released a statement on social media stating he 'stands against discrimination in all forms' and that he apologises for 'getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations'.
The statement came after a controversial video appeared to show the Argentina players singing about how French players are 'from Angola' or have a 'Nigerian' mother and a 'Cameroonian' father.
Fofana, who is French and the son of an Ivorian father, was less than impressed with the video and took to X to share the footage with the caption: 'Football in 2024: uninhibited racism'.
Sources close to the players have told Mail Sport that Chelsea's French contingent - which consists of Fofana, Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile - are furious with Fernandez.
![Fernandez filmed a video of the Argentina team singing a racist chant about France](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/17/00/87378277-0-Enzo_Fernandez_filmed_a_video_of_the_Argentina_team_singing_a_ra-a-51_1721172312210.jpg)
![The video has been widely condemned, including by the French Football Federation](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/17/00/87391513-0-The_video_has_been_widely_condemned_including_by_the_French_Foot-m-50_1721172306788.jpg)
Enzo Fernandez filmed a video of the Argentina team singing a racist chant about France
![Fernandez has taken to social media to apologise for his actions after Argentina's win](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/17/00/87423307-0-image-a-56_1721172613519.jpg)
Fernandez has taken to social media to apologise for his actions after Argentina's win
![The video was shot after Argentina beat Colombia on Sunday to win the Copa America](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/16/10/87378109-13629069-The_Copa_America_winners_beat_Colombia_on_Sunday_night_in_extra_-m-10_1721122505447.jpg)
The video was shot after Argentina beat Colombia on Sunday to win the Copa America
Fernandez took to social media to apologise for his actions, writing: 'I want to apologise sincerely for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations.'
He went on to add: 'The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words.
'I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologise 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.
'I am truly sorry.'
The song dates back to the 2022 World Cup final in which Argentina defeated France on penalties and the players were filmed singing it after their victory over Colombia in the Copa America final on Sunday night.
![Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, who also plays for France, has vented his disgust at the video. He is one of three Blues players to unfollow Fernandez on Instagram](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/16/20/87415711-13640865-image-m-38_1721158354084.jpg)
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, who also plays for France, has vented his disgust at the video. He is one of three Blues players to unfollow Fernandez on Instagram
![Fofana reposted the video via X alongside the words: 'Football in 2024: uninhibited racism'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/16/20/87415853-13640865-Fofana_reposed_the_video_via_X_alongside_the_words_Football_in_2-a-42_1721158540787.jpg)
Fofana reposted the video via X alongside the words: 'Football in 2024: uninhibited racism'
French Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo branded the footage 'racist and discriminatory' and vowed to take legal action with a complaint to FIFA.
'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,' added the FFF.
Chelsea are conducting their own probe after the man they spent a British-record £107million on in January 2023 found himself at the centre of a storm. Sources at Chelsea say they are taking the matter seriously and will proceed accordingly.
While Fofana, Disasi and Gusto have all unfollowed Fernandez on Instagram.
It comes just months after former Chelsea player Jimmy Aggrey spoke out about the racist abuse he endured at the hands of two coaches as a teenager.
Aggrey was one of four former players who launched civil action against Chelsea over their treatment at the hands of Gwyn Williams, who was reportedly handed a secret lifetime ban by the FA, and Graham Rix, who was sent to prison for under-age sex offences. Each former player received a six-figure sum.
![The song originated in public when Argentina fans chanted it on TV at the 2022 World Cup](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/16/10/64643355-13629069-A_group_of_fans_in_Argentina_shirts_in_Qatar_performed_vile_chan-a-4_1721122190514.jpg)
The song originated in public when Argentina fans chanted it on TV at the 2022 World Cup
![It claims the French squad 'are all from Angola' and that they 'f*** transgender people like f***ing Mbappe'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/16/10/64643357-13629069-The_Argentina_supporters_chanted_sick_songs_about_the_French_tea-a-5_1721122229086.jpg)
It claims the French squad 'are all from Angola' and that they 'f*** transgender people like f***ing Mbappe'
![Fernandez was grinning but quickly stopped the Instagram livestream when the song began](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/17/00/87391299-0-Fernandez_was_grinning_but_quickly_stopped_the_Instagram_livestr-m-54_1721172462125.jpg)
![Eduardo Camavinga was the only French player at the 2022 World Cup who was born in Angola](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/17/00/87391493-0-Eduardo_Camavinga_was_the_only_French_player_at_the_2022_World_C-a-55_1721172473052.jpg)
Fernandez was grinning but quickly stopped the Instagram livestream when the song began