Argentina’s players were celebrating on their team bus following their 1-0 extra-time win over Colombia in the Copa America final on Sunday evening when Fernandez was broadcasting a live video on Instagram.
During Fernandez’s broadcast, Argentina’s players could be heard singing the first two lines of the song, ‘on passport, French nationality, listen, spread the word, they play in France, but they are all…’, before someone is heard saying, ‘cut the video’.
The racist and transphobic chant, which was first sung by Argentina supporters during the 2022 World Cup, claims that France’s players are ‘all from Angola’ and makes a vile reference to a reported relationship between Kylian Mbappe and transgender model Ines Rau.
The full lyrics to the song are: ‘Listen, spread the word, they play in France, but they are all from Angola, they are going to run well, they like to sleep with trans people, their mum is Nigerian, their dad is Cameroonian, but on the passport it says: French.’
A statement from Chelsea on Wednesday morning 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.’
In his apology message posted on Instagram, Fernandez 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.
‘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.’
The 23-year-old plays alongside several black French teammates at Chelsea including Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Christopher Nkunku and Lesley Ugochukwu.
On Tuesday evening, Fofana shared the video on X with the caption: ‘Football in 2024: uninhibited racism.’
The French Football Federation has also vowed to file a complaint to FIFA over ‘racist and discriminatory remarks’ by Argentina players.
Fernandez was signed by Chelsea in a €121 million (£106.8m) deal from Benfica in January 2023.
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