Chelsea has begun disciplinary motion after midfielder Enzo Fernandez was concerned in a video the place members of Argentina’s Copa America-winning squad appeared to sing about French gamers with African heritage.
FIFA additionally mentioned it was additionally wanting into the incident after the French soccer federation pledged to file a grievance with the game’s world governing physique over “racist and discriminatory remarks.”
Fernandez mentioned he was “actually sorry” and Chelsea mentioned discriminatory behaviour was “fully unacceptable.”
“We’re proud to be a various, inclusive membership the place individuals from all cultures, communities and identities really feel welcome,” the Premier League membership mentioned in an announcement Wednesday. “We acknowledge and recognize our participant’s public apology and can use this as a possibility to coach.
“The Membership has instigated an inside disciplinary process.”
Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 on Sunday at Miami Gardens, Florida. Afterwards a video posted on Instagram appeared to indicate Fernandez and Argentina gamers chanting about France’s crew as they celebrated.
The identical chants — by some Argentina followers — emerged earlier than the crew beat France within the World Cup remaining in 2022.
The derogatory chants single out France gamers of African heritage, from a number of international locations, and holding a French passport.
Fernandez apologized for “getting caught up within the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations.”
“That video, that second, these phrases, don’t mirror my beliefs or my character,” he mentioned on Instagram. “I’m actually sorry.”
Most costly signing
Fernandez grew to become the costliest participant in British soccer historical past after becoming a member of Chelsea from Benfica for 106.7 million kilos ($131.4 million) in 2023.
Chelsea’s response comes after one among Fernandez’s clubmate and France defender Wesley Fofana posted the video on his social media accounts Tuesday and known as it “uninhibited racism.”
Fofana has household ties to Ivory Coast and is amongst a number of French gamers who’re Black within the Chelsea first-team squad.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has mentioned soccer and its 211 nationwide federations will need to have a zero tolerance method to racism and in Could dedicated to relaunching a activity pressure to watch incidents.
“FIFA is conscious of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being seemed into,” the governing physique mentioned Wednesday. “FIFA strongly condemns any type of discrimination by anybody together with gamers, followers and officers.”
It’s unclear what jurisdiction FIFA has over the incident on a crew bus after a match, however the governing physique possible may act if the Argentina federation’s dealing with of the case is taken into account unsatisfactory.
