France International Slams Argentina’s Racist Chant as ‘Lamentable’
As the world celebrated Argentina’s Copa America triumph, an ugly underbelly was exposed. Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez and his teammates were heard singing a racist song, targeting players of French descent, on an Instagram live broadcast. The chants, which are said to date back to the 2022 World Cup, have sparked outrage and condemnation across the football world.
One of those who has spoken out against the unsavory incident is France defender Jules Kounde. The Barcelona star, who featured at Euro 2024 for Les Bleus, took to X to express his disgust. "Lamentable" was all he could muster, accompanied by a pair of clown emojis and a sick face emoji.
It’s not just Kounde who has been vocal about the incident. Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana, who shares a dressing room with Fernandez at Stamford Bridge, shared the disturbing clip on social media. "Football in 2024: uninhibited racism," he wrote, punctuating the comment with three facepalming emojis.
In the aftermath of the controversy, all of Chelsea’s French players have unfollowed Fernandez on social media. The incident has also led to widespread condemnation from fans and pundits alike, with many calling for stronger action against racism in the beautiful game.
For his part, Fernandez has apologized for the "highly offensive language" used in the song. In a social media post, he stated: "I want to apologise sincerely for a video posted 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 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 incident has led to France Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo to condemn the chant in the strongest terms. The organization has also announced that they will be filing a complaint to FIFA over the matter.
As football continues to grapple with the issue of racism, it’s clear that there is still much work to be done. As fans, players, and pundits, we must remain vigilant and united in the fight against discrimination.
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