.png)
4 months ago
20
David Datro Fofana has called out racism in football on social media, claiming that the fight against racial discrimination must be 'taken seriously by everyone involved in this sport'.
On Tuesday, his Chelsea team-mate Enzo Fernandez had posted a video online of himself and several of his Argentina team-mates singing a controversial song, which claimed that French players are 'from Angola' or have a 'Nigerian' mother and a 'Cameroonian' father.
Chelsea have subsequently addressed the video, 'condemning all forms of discriminatory behaviour as completely unacceptable', while fellow Blues player Wesley Fofana, called the video 'uninhibited racism'.
The video has prompted many from the world of football to speak out on racism, with David Datro Fofana, 23, posting a picture of himself on his Instagram story, with the caption: 'The football that I like is multi-ethnic.
'Racism in all its forms should be condemned in the strongest possible terms,' Fofana wrote.
David Datro Fofana took to Instagram on Wednesday to speak out against racism in football
Fofana, who joined Chelsea in 2023 from Molde FK, spent the last season out on loan at Burnley
'These acts have no place in football or even anywhere else.
'This fight really needs to be taken seriously by everyone involved in this sport.'
Fofana was born in Marseille, France, to an Ivorian father and a French mother and has been capped by the Ivory Coast men's senior side on three occasions.
Chelsea, meanwhile have broken their silence on the video, which was posted after Argentina clinched the Copa America title on Monday, following a 1-0 win against Colombia.
'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,' the club said.
'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.'
Mail Sport understands Chelsea had spoken to Fernandez first to verify the comments before issuing a public statement on the matter.
Fofana reposted the video via X alongside the words: 'Football in 2024: uninhibited racism'
Enzo Fernandez filmed a video of the Argentina team singing a racist chant about France
Several of his team-mates have now unfollowed the Argentina midfielder, including Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi and Malo Gusto.
Fernandez had posted an apology on Tuesday night, which said: ''I want to apologise 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 video has been widely condemned, including by the French Football Federation
The chant in full
'Listen, spread the word;
They play in France, but they are all from Angola;
How nice it is! They are going to run;
They are 'cometravas'* like f***ing Mbappé;
Their mom is Nigerian;
Their dad, Cameroonian.
But in the document ...Nationality: French.'
*'Cometravas' is a slang term that loosely translates to somebody who has sex with transgender people.
The song originated in public when Argentina fans chanted it on TV at the 2022 World Cup
French Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo branded the footage 'racist and discriminatory'
'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.'
English (US)