By Sami Mokbel
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez will escape punishment by the Football Association for his role in a discriminatory social media video that included derogatory remarks about members of the France team.
FIFA and Chelsea opened an investigation after a social media video following Argentina’s Copa America victory appeared to show Fernandez and his teammates chanting a racist song about the French team as they celebrated in July.
At the time, there were indications that the FA would also investigate Fernandez’s role in the video given he is classed as a ‘participant’ in English football.
But the FA are not probing the matter because the video was recorded while Fernandez was on international duty, meaning it is a matter for FIFA and CONEMBOL.
The Chelsea star was at the centre of a racism storm ever since he filmed Argentina’s celebrations on the team bus post-victory.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez will escape punishment by the Football Association for his role in a discriminatory social media video
Fernandez filmed a video of the Argentina team singing a racist chant about France after their Copa America title success
Furious criticism of his and the Argentina squad’s actions followed after his Instagram live video showed the team singing a discriminatory song aimed at France’s black football players and their heritage.
Some of Fernandez’s Chelsea team-mates were furious with the midfielder as Blues defender Wesley Fofana described the disgusting scenes as ‘uninhibited racism’, while others unfollowed the Argentine on social media in response.
The Frenchman later made up with Fernandez and insisted that the midfielder is not racist and simply ‘needed educating’.
Fernandez later apologised for his actions and the ‘highly offensive’ nature of the chant that was first made popular by a group of fans at the 2022 Qatar World Cup prior to the tournament final against France.
Argentina later went on to lift the title as Lionel Messi ended his wait for a World Cup crown, with Fernandez also part of the winning team while playing for Benfica at the time.Â
The discriminatory issue is instead a matter for FIFA and CONEMBOL to addressÂ
The vile chant has since been adopted by more Argentine crowds and evidently their players, with some of Fernandez’s national colleagues since coming out to support him.
The 23-year-old has since been reintegrated into Chelsea’s squad and has started in the Blues’ last three matches across all competitions.Â
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Enzo Fernandez to escape FA punishment for ‘racist’ chant directed at France’s black players following Argentina’s Copa America triumph in July
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Publish date : 2024-09-12 09:24:00
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