Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has apologised for participating in a video with his Argentina teammates that featured racial references towards French people.
On Sunday night, Fernandez was part of the Argentina team that secured another major trophy, earning a 1-0 victory over Colombia in the Copa America final.
However, the aftermath has been marred by a video posted by the 23-year-old on Instagram which shown many members of the squad singing a song that Fernandez has since acknowledged is "highly-offensive".
The song in question featured the words: "They play for France, but their parents are from Angola. Their mother is from Cameroon, while their father is from Nigeria. But their passport says French."
FFP president Philippe Diallo and Fernandez's Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana were quick to condemn the video, the latter referring to it as 'Football in 2024. Unabashed racism.'
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Fernandez publicly apologises for video
Fernandez - who cost in excess of £105m in January 2023 - took to social media in the hours after Fofana's post, as well as several French Chelsea players unfollowing him on Instagram.
He said: "I want to apologise sincerely 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," he 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."
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Chelsea release their own statement
At a time when new head coach Enzo Maresca and his squad have been working diligently on the training ground, Chelsea have announced that they have instigated an 'internal disciplinary procedure'.
A statement read: "Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable. 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 is currently not due to link up with the Chelsea squad for a number of weeks due to his time with his national team in the United States.
The current aim may be for him to arrive in the same country at the back end of Chelsea's pre-season tour, with the new Premier League campaign not commencing until August 16.
Darren Plant
