Lionel Messi told to apologize for racist chanting by his Argentina teammates, despite not even being with them when it happened

Even though Argentina captain Lionel Messi was not on the team's bus after its Copa America final triumph over Colombia, he is being asked to apologize for his teammates racist chants. 

Julio Garro, the Undersecretary of Sports in Argentine President Javier Milei's administration, has called for Messi and Argentine Football Association president Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia to publicly show remorse for the way some of the South American champions acted in the early hours of Monday morning. 

Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez has been accused of 'uninhibited racism' by his Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana with video he posted from the team bus singing a song with language disparaging France. 

The London-based club are investigating the controversial footage which appeared to show Argentina players singing about how French players are 'from Angola' or have a 'Nigerian' mother and a 'Cameroonian' father. 

Fofana, who is French and has a father from Côte d'Ivoire, posted the video to X with the caption: 'Football in 2024: uninhibited racism'.  

'I think the captain of the national team should come out and apologize for this case, as should the president of the AFA,' Garro said, per La Nacion. 

'I think it is appropriate, it is something that leaves us as a country in a bad position, with so much glory,' Garro continued. '... But I think it is an opportunity to deal with this mistake.'

Messi has made three posts on Instagram since the Copa America Final, none of which addressed Fernandez and the controversy. 

Messi's latest Instagram story shows him eating dinner with one of his sons.  

Chelsea's roster has several French players of color including Fofana, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Christopher Nkunku. 

Former Chelsea player N'Golo Kanté was heavily used by France during the European Championships, with Fernandez just missing out on being teammates with him.  

Sources close to the players have told Mail Sport that Chelsea's French contingent are furious with Fernandez. Quite the chaos for new Blues boss Enzo Maresca. 

Fernandez has since apologized for his actions on social media, starting by saying: 'I want to apologize 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,' Fernandez continued. 'I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologize 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,' Fernandez concluded. 

In the days since the video went live, Fofana, Disasi, and Gusto have all unfollowed Fernandez on social media.

Fernandez reportedly apologized to his teammates earlier this week, per The Telegraph.  

The French Football Federation has also filed a complaint with FIFA over the video.  

Messi exited the Copa America Final in the 66th minute with a gruesome ankle injury and will miss extended time with Inter Miami. 

The Argentine captain was not on the team bus during Fernandez's video because the final was played in Miami, where he resides. He also wanted treatment on his ankle, not to be on a flight to Buenos Aires, per ESPN. 

Chelsea FC also released a statement on Argentina's actions and Fernandez.

'Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behavior completely unacceptable. We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome,' the Blues statement read. 

'We acknowledge and appreciate our player’s public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate,' the statement continued. 'The Club has instigated an internal disciplinary procedure.'

No punishment has been handed down to Fernandez from club or country as of Wednesday morning. 

Some Chelsea fans also were not pleased with Fernandez, who joined the team last January from Portuguese squad Benfica in a post-World Cup triumph transfer. 

'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.'

Fernandez is under contract with Chelsea until 2031.