Following Argentina’s Copa America victory, a live Instagram video surfaced showing Fernandez and his teammates chanting a derogatory song about the French team during their celebration.
The French Football Federation (FFF) announced plans to file a complaint, and Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana reposted the video with the caption “Football in 2024: uninhibited racism”.
On Wednesday morning, Chelsea, the club that acquired Fernandez for a record Premier League fee of £106.8m in January 2023, issued a statement confirming the initiation of a “disciplinary procedure”.
“Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable,” it said, posted hours after Fernandez apologised. “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.”
Fernandez Apology
“The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words,” the 23-year-old said. “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 FFF has alleged the song appearing to be sung by some members of Argentina’s national team is “racist and discriminatory”.
In a statement they said: “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 America and broadcast in a video on social media.
“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 Argentinian counterpart and FIFA, and to file a legal complaint for insulting remarks of a racist and discriminatory nature.”
