France to report Argentina over racist chants

French Football Federation (FFF), plans to complain to FIFA about alleged racist chants from members of Argentina’s Copa America winning team.

The chants were heard during a live video posted on social media by Chelsea and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from the team bus in the wake of the Copa victory over Colombia in Miami on Sunday.

Some players, including Fernandez, sing a chant that dates back to the 2022 World Cup final that Argentina won against France that targets France’s star striker Kylian Mbappe and includes alleged homophobic insults.

A source close to the FFF told AFP on Tuesday that the French body plans to write to the Argentinian football federation and refer the matter to FIFA.

Two years ago, the FFF also filed a complaint against racist comments on social media.

Africa Facts Zone via X who also posted an update noted that Enzo Fernandez and the Argentine Players have been accused of racism, after ridiculing French Players of African descent, following their Copa America victory.

According to them, they were chanting 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.”

Enzo Fernandez has since been criticised by X users for his involvement in singing the chants.

A user #CFCMod_ wrote, “I can never defend Enzo Fernandez again, publicly making racist chants and laughing about it. There’s no apology that can redeem “racism” and I hope everyone understands this.”

Another #WelBeast wrote, “I just saw a video of Enzo Fernandez cheerleading to a racist song aimed at Kylian Mbappe, and that’s not even the worst part. The worst part is seeing a post from a Chelsea fan asking him to apologize so they can forgive him. I don’t want to speak.”

AFP