Return to July 2024. At the end of Argentina’s victory against Colombia (1-0) in the final of the last Copa América – two years after their coronation at the 2022 World Cup – the players sang at the top of their lungs a chant with racist connotations targeting the France team. The one chanted by many supporters during the World Cup in Qatar.
A lively controversy then broke out, particularly with Enzo Fernandez. The latter had launched a live Instagram
during the celebrations in the Argentinian bus. His teammate at Chelsea, the Frenchman Wesley Fofana, even denounced an act of “uninhibited racism. »
An event that the midfielder returned to during an interview with Givemesport. If he first wanted to present his “sincere apologies”the Argentinian then tried to justify himself. “I remember that period. What happened is not like me. »
A song “which is part of folklore”
Enzo Fernandez continues. “It was a very difficult time for me and I suffered a lot”ensuring that we have “always understood the position” of his French teammates at the time, including Wesley Fofana, but also Axel Disasi, Malo Gusto, Benoît Badiashile, Christopher Nkunku and Lesley Ugochukwu. “So the first thing I did was call them and tell them I wasn’t going on vacation. I wanted to come back and talk to them in person, explain who I am and tell them about my values. »
The 22-year-old apologized to club members a few weeks after the incident. “It was a moment of euphoria where I didn’t want to hurt anyone. It was just a song that we sing in Argentina, which is part of football folklore, as they call it. » Now the episode is forgotten. “We often eat together and do things outside the locker room. During team dinners or when we are in the locker room, everything happens normally. Nothing else happened because they know me well. »
