Chelsea don begin disciplinary proceedings against midfielder Enzo Fernandez afta im post video for social media wey di French Football Federation say include alleged “racist and discriminatory” chant.
On Tuesday, di FFF say dem go file complaint to world govning body Fifa concerning di video wey feature one song wey some of di Argentina squad bin sing about France black players.
Fernandez Chelsea team-mate Wesley Fofana, wey get one cap for France, post photo of di video on Instagram, e describe am as “uninhibited racism”.
Fernandez – a £107m British record signing for February 2023 – say im dey “truly sorry” for di video im post as Argentina celebrate afta dem win di Copa America.
Fifa also dey investigate di video, wey several members of di Argentina squad take part for sing. Na Argentine fans bin originally sing di song wey question di heritage of France black and mixed race players.
Chelsea get seven France players wey be black or mixed race for dia first-team squad – Fofana, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku, Malo Gusto and Malang Sarr.
“Di song get highly offensive language and I no get excuse for dis words,” Fernandez tok.
“I stand against discrimination in all forms and I apologise say I lose guard, na sake of all di joy of our Copa America celebrations.
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“Dat video, dat moments, dose words, no reflect my beliefs or my character.”
Chelsea statement read say: “We acknowledge and we appreciate our player public apology and we go use dis as opportunity to educate pipo.
“Di club don begin internal disciplinary procedure.”
‘Dis tins no get place for football’
Fernandez Chelsea team-mate David Datro Fofana call for action by evribodi for football for di “fight” against racism.
“Di football I like na multi-ethnic,” na wetin di Ivorian forward post for Instagram.
“Racism in all forms need to dey condemned in di strongest possible terms. Dis tins no get place for football or even anywia else.
“Dis fight, evribodi for dis sport really need to take am seriously.”
Fofana currently dey train with Chelsea afta im loan spell end wit Burnley last season, while fellow Blues striker Nicolas Jackson don also publish one post on Instagram in support of Fernandez.
Jackson post show di Argentina midfielder as im dey play wit a young black child during di club pre-season US tour last year.
Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out say di video dey”unacceptable”.
“We stand wit and show our full support to Wesley Fofana afta im respond publicly and bring dis mata out to a wider attention,” dem add.
“Several players dey sing di song, wey mean say e go get wider impact on team-mates and fans for oda clubs.
“We dey call on all relevant clubs, Di Argentina federation and Fifa to address di concerning issue wit empathy, sensitivity and understanding.
“Responses to dis kain incidents no fit start and end wit apology. More important na di action afta be di koko to make sure say players dey educated and dey accountable, both for England and on global scale.”
Di FFF go contact di Argentine Football Association (AFA) about di live video wey Fernandez post on social media afta Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 for Copa America final on Sunday.
One statement from di FFF tok say president Philippe Diallo “condemn in di strongest terms di unacceptable and discriminatory remarks against di players of di French team”.
E add say: “Faced wit di seriousness of dis shocking remarks, wey dey against di values of sport and human rights, di president of di FFF decide to directly appeal to im Argentine counterpart and Fifa to file legal complaint for racially offensive and discriminatory remarks.”
Dem don reach reach out to Argentine FA to chook mouth for di mata.
France beat Argentina for di last 16 of di 2018 World Cup, and Argentina beat France for di final of di 2022 World Cup.
One Fifa tok-tok pesin say dem dey “aware of one video wey circulate on social media” and add say “dem dey torchlight di mata “.
Dem add put say: “Fifa strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anybody including players, fans and officials.”
Chelsea say dem find “all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable”.
Dem add say: “We dey proud say we be diverse and inclusive club wia pipo from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome.”
- Argentina beat Colombia to win 16th Copa America final
- Southgate resign as England manager
- ‘Very, very special player’ – Di 16 years old wey make history for Euro 2024
