- Footage posted online shows the River Plate crowd singing the racist chant
- Enzo Fernandez was presented to the crowd pre-match on Sunday evening
- The Chelsea star is already at the centre of an investigation over the vile song
Enzo Fernandez was paraded by his boyhood club River Plate on Sunday in celebration of his recent Copa America success with Argentina, but he has been embroiled in further racism controversy after the whole stadium appeared to sing an offensive song aimed at France and their black players.
The 23-year-old was present in the stadium as part of a celebration of the South American nation’s recent tournament success, but has again found himself in an environment where the racist song was chanted.
The Chelsea star has been at the centre of a racism storm ever since Argentina’s victory over Colombia in the Copa America final on Monday evening where he filmed celebrations on the team bus.
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.
Enzo Fernandez was paraded by his boyhood club River Plate on Sunday with the stadium later filmed singing the racist song about France’s players that the Chelsea midfielder is at the centre of another controversy over
![Footage shared on social media shows the entire stadium appearing to chant the song](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/21/21/87598579-13657057-image-a-3_1721595323180.jpg)
Footage shared on social media shows the entire stadium appearing to chant the song
![Fernandez was presented to the River Plate crowd pre-match in celebration of Argentina's recent Copa America success](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/21/21/87598651-13657057-image-a-4_1721595344032.jpg)
Fernandez was presented to the River Plate crowd pre-match in celebration of Argentina’s recent Copa America success
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.
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.
Chelsea also issued a statement where they condemned ‘all forms of discriminatory behaviour’ and are now conducting an investigation into events.
Meanwhile, Fernandez has travelled to his native homeland and was presented to the crowd before River Plate’s Primera Divison clash against Lanus prior to the match.
The 23-year-old looked delighted as he donned a club shirt that was presented to him and showed his appreciation to various sections of the crowd.
However, videos on social media have now shown the entire stadium singing the chant that first thrust Fernandez into the spotlight last week, with the Premier League star earlier posting a picture of his private seating area.
The translation of the song states: ‘Listen, spread the word; They play in France, but they are all from Angola;
![Fernandez previously filmed a video of the Argentina team singing the racist chant about France](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/21/21/87378277-13657057-Fernandez_filmed_a_video_of_the_Argentina_team_singing_a_racist_-a-6_1721595433652.jpg)
![The video has been widely condemned, including by the French Football Federation](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/21/21/87391513-13657057-The_video_has_been_widely_condemned_including_by_the_French_Foot-a-5_1721595433534.jpg)
Enzo Fernandez previously filmed a video of the Argentina team singing a racist chant about France after their Copa America title success on Monday
‘How nice it is! They are going to run; They are ‘cometravas’* like f***ing Mbappé;
‘Their mom is Nigerian; Their dad, Cameroonian. But in the document …Nationality: French.’
![Fernandez previously posted his apology on social media following Argentina's victory in the Copa America](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/21/21/87423307-13657057-Fernandez_has_taken_to_social_media_to_apologise_for_his_actions-a-7_1721595588764.jpg)
Fernandez previously posted his apology on social media following Argentina’s victory in the Copa America
Fans inside the Estadio Mas Monumental can be heard singing along to the song and appear to be in celebratory spirits just moments before kick-off in the footage shared online.
Fernandez is still waiting to find out if he will face any punishment over his involvement with the Argentina national team’s chanting at the start of the week.
Reports suggest he could face a ban of up to 12 matches for taking part in the racist and transphobic chant while on duty for Argentina, according to a top sports lawyer.
Former Tottenham and France national team goalkeeper was amongst those to condemn the song as he called it an ‘attack on French people’ and called on Argentina’s players to ‘learn from their mistakes’.
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