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4 months ago
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Fans have called on Chelsea to sell Enzo Fernandez after he filmed himself singing a 'racist' chant during Argentina's Copa America celebrations.
The Argentina star and a number of his team-mates appeared to sing a controversial song seemingly about how French players are 'from Angola' or have a 'Nigerian' mother and a 'Cameroonian' father.
The Chelsea player was then accused of 'uninhibited racism' by his French international team-mate Wesley Fofana, with a number of other Blues players then unfollowing Fernandez on social media.
Fernandez, who moved to Stamford Bridge for British-record £107million on in January 2023, belatedly issued an apology on Tuesday night but fans have slammed the 23-year-old and called for him to be sold this summer.
'I want Enzo Fernandez out of my club and I'm not even joking,' one Blues supporter wrote on X. Another commented: 'Chelsea should terminate his contract else I won’t watch their game again.'
Enzo Fernandez filmed a video of the Argentina team singing a racist chant about France
The video was shot after Argentina beat Colombia on Sunday to win the Copa America
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana (middle), who also plays for France, vented his disgust at the video. He is one of three Blues players to unfollow Fernandez on Instagram
Fans similarly voiced their displeasure, with many calling for the midfielder to be sold this summer
One Chelsea supporter demanded for Fernandez to 'get off Chelsea pls,' while another said: 'He doesn't deserve to play for Chelsea.'
The Stamford Bridge outfit published a statement in response to the video posted by their midfielder on Wednesday morning, in which they denounced 'all forms' of discriminatory behaviour.
'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,' began the club's statement.
'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.'
Fernandez has eight-years remaining on his £180,000-a-week deal which runs until 2032.
The song came in the wake of the Albiceleste's second successive Copa America title on Sunday, with a number of the squad chanting and singing on a team bus in celebration.
Chelsea have a large number of French players among their squad including Fofana, Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile.
Fofana, Disasi and Gusto have all unfollowed Fernandez on Instagram.
Mail Sport previously reported that sources close to the players have revealed that Chelsea's French contingent are furious with Fernandez.
His apology read: 'I want to apologise for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations.
There were others who claimed that the 23-year-old no longer deserves to play for the Blues
Fernandez belatedly issued an apology on Tuesday night, in which he claimed to 'stand against discrimination in all forms'
Chelsea confirmed that they have begun an internal disciplinary procedure in their statement
'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.'
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.
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