Enzo Fernandez reacts following racism accusations after Argentina’s copa America victory
Enzo Fernandez, the Argentine midfielder and Chelsea player, has publicly apologized after a controversial video surfaced on Instagram.
The video contained racist remarks directed at French internationals Eduardo Camavinga and Kylian Mbappé, causing widespread outrage.
The controversy erupted following Argentina’s Copa América victory against Colombia on July 15.
During the celebrations, a live video was shared on social media in which offensive comments targeted the African origins of certain French players.
The remarks included derogatory references to Mbappé’s heritage, calling him a “slut” and making pejorative comments about his Cameroonian and Nigerian roots.
French international Wesley Fofana expressed his displeasure by sharing the clip on his social media, captioning it with “football in 2024: racism without shame.”
The French Football Federation (FFF) quickly announced its intention to bring the matter to FIFA, while Chelsea launched an internal investigation involving Fernandez.
The incident also affected Fernandez’s relationships with his Chelsea teammates, as several players, including Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, Benoît Badiashile, Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Christopher Nkunku, unfollowed him on Instagram.
Responding to the backlash, Fernandez issued a statement on his social media platforms, offering a sincere apology.
“I want to sincerely apologize for a video posted on my Instagram during the national team’s celebrations. I oppose discrimination in all its forms and apologize for getting carried away in the euphoria of our Copa América celebrations,” he wrote. He added, “The song contains very offensive language, and there is absolutely no excuse for those words. This video, this moment, these words do not reflect my beliefs or character. I am truly sorry.”
