Enzo Fernandez’s ‘racist’ video triggers Chelsea investigation after team-mates’ fury

Enzo Fernandez has apologised after Wesley Fofana declared a video posted by his Chelsea team-mate “uninhibited racism” amid a rising race storm involving Argentina and France.

Fofana’s accusation came after the French Football Federation said it would take legal action against Argentina as a result of Fernández’s video, in which members of the national team appear to be singing a “racist and discriminatory” chant.

Fofana posted Fernández’s video on his own social media pages with the caption: “Football in 2024: uninhibited racism.” Fofana’s public accusation, regarding a situation in which his club team-mate is so heavily involved, will present the first significant challenge for new Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca.

In the early hours on Wednesday morning Fernandez posted the following apology as an Instagram story:

Chelsea have launched an investigation into the video, with club sources saying the matter is being taken extremely seriously.

A club statement on Tuesday morning read: “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.

“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.”

It was reported on Monday night that several Chelsea players, including Fofana as well as French team-mates Axel Disasi and Malo Gusto, have unfollowed Fernandez on Instagram since the incident.

The video emerged as Fernández was live-streaming Argentina’s players during their Copa América celebrations on their team bus in the wake of winning Sunday’s final against Colombia.

Recordings of the video feature members of the team appearing to begin singing a chant that includes racist and homophobic slurs, including against France captain Kylian Mbappé.

The chant dates back at least to the World Cup final in which Argentina beat Mbappé‘s country on penalties.

The words falsely stereotype France squad members as being “all from Angola” or having a “Nigerian” mother and “Cameroonian” father, as well as making crude insults and wild accusations about Mbappé’s sexuality.

Clips posted of the video show the team seemingly at least singing the Angola part of the song before the recording was cut off. One member of France’s World Cup squad, Eduardo Camavinga, was born in Angola.

In a statement, the FFF announced that it had reported the incident to Fifa and intended to pursue legal action against those allegedly responsible.

“The president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, condemns in the strongest terms the unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks which were made against the players of the French team in the context of a song sung by players and supporters of the Argentina team after its victory in the Copa América and broadcast in a video on social media,” an FFF statement read.

“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.”

Telegraph Sport has approached the Argentinian Football Association, and the Football Association for comment.

In a statement, Fifa said: “Fifa is aware of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being looked into. Fifa strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anyone including players, fans and officials.”

The clip emerged a month after Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur used a racist slur against captain Son Heung-min during an appearance on Uruguayan television. Bentancur issued an apology for his comments.