Argentina football star Enzo Fernandez gets into more trouble following racist chant

Tens of thousands of River Plate fans came to Mas Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Sunday to celebrate with their former player Fernandez after Argentina won the Copa America 2024. After the 23-year-old midfielder appeared, the fans chanted the controversial remarks in unison: “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.”

Fernandez did not chant along with the fans.

On July 15, Fernandez shared an Instagram Live video, showing him and his teammates chanting the above remarks directly aimed at the players of France national football team.

Fernandez immediately turned off the live video and deleted it, but many people were able to capture it and quickly made it viral on social media. The incident put Fernandez and the Argentina national team under heavy criticism.

According to Daily Mail, almost the entire audience at Monumental Stadium chanted to show support for Fernandez. The Chelsea midfielder is being investigated by FIFA and he can be suspended for up to 12 matches if the chant is considered racist.

There are 10 Chelsea players who have unfollowed Fernandez, most of whom are French or of African origin. However, there are also players who support this midfielder, like striker Nicolas Jackson.

The Argentine government also supports Fernandez. President Javier Milei and Vice President Victoria Villarruel both said that Fernandez did nothing wrong as he was just speaking the truth. Sports undersecretary Julio Garro even lost his job because he asked Messi to apologize on behalf of his teammates for the chant.

Fernandez spent 15 years with River Plate, before moving to Portuguese Benfica in the summer of 2022 for $11 million. After only half a season in Portugal, his price increased more than 10 times when he signed for Chelsea in January 2023 for $136 million.