Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez has found himself in a sticky spot following his racist remarks during the Copa America 2024 celebrations. Apparently, fans of the Argentinian club River Plate echoed the racist remarks made by Fernandez against French players last week.
On Sunday, tens of thousands gathered at Buenos Aires’ Mas Monumental Stadium to celebrate the win along with Fernandez, their former player. When the 23-year-old midfielder appeared, the crowd chanted the controversial comments together.
They expressed 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,” However, Fernandez did not join in.
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Fernandez Faces Backlash
Earlier on July 15, Enzo Fernandez shared a live Instagram video featuring him and his teammates making derogatory remarks aimed at the French national football team. Though Fernandez quickly ended and deleted the video, it was widely shared on social media, sparking significant backlash against both him and the Argentina national team.
According to Daily Mail reports, the Monumental Stadium crowd chanted in solidarity with Fernandez during the celebration. FIFA is currently investigating the Chelsea midfielder and he could face a suspension of up to 12 matches if the remarks are deemed racist.
The fallout has extended to Fernandez’ relationships with his Chelsea teammates, with ten players, primarily French or of African descent, unfollowing him on social media. Despite this, Fernandez has received support from some, including striker Nicolas Jackson.
In Argentina, Fernandez has backing from high-ranking officials. President Javier Milei and Vice President Victoria Villarruel defended him, claiming he was merely telling the truth. However, Sports Undersecretary Julio Garro lost his position after requesting Messi to apologise on behalf of his teammates.
Fernandez, who spent 15 years at River Plate, transferred to Benfica in 2022 for $11 million. His value skyrocketed to $136 million when he moved to Chelsea in January 2023 after just half a season in Portugal.