Enzo Fernandez apologises for racist chants after Argentina's Copa triumph

‘Listen, run the ball, they play in France, but they are all from Angola. How nice it is... they're going to run... they're 'cometrabas' like f*cking Mbappe...’. This song has been played by Argentine fans since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the ‘Albiceleste’ met and won the final against the French. What few expected was that the controversial chant would find its way into the dressing room of the newly crowned Copa America champions.

On Tuesday, a huge controversy erupted as Enzo Fernandez posted a video on social media showing him and his team-mates chanting the aforementioned words on the national team bus. His own Chelsea teammates accused him of racism on their profiles, which has prompted him to post an apology on his Instagram stories.

 

July 16, 2024

‘I want to sincerely 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 its forms and I apologise for getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebration,’ he wrote.

‘That video, that moment, those words... do not reflect my beliefs or my character. I am truly sorry,’ he added. This season, a new era begins with Enzo Maresca at the helm, and it remains to be seen how much of a hierarchy he will impose, or how well he will fit in with new signings such as former Barcelona man Marc Guiu.

 

July 16, 2024