Enzo's Racist Chant Has Team Divided

 Enzo Fernandez Racist Chant Has Team Divided

    Enzo Fernandez came under fire after a video surfaced of the Argentinian National team chanting racist remarks. Argentina was awarded the Copa America 2024 after defeating Colombia 1-0 on a day shrouded by controversy. The game was delayed over an hour after fans created chaos by storming the gates. Hundreds of fans climbed the gates and entered the stadium without tickets, leaving those with tickets outside while security attempted to restore order. The game ended with an Argentine victory, but the players are facing the aftershock of their celebration song. 

Fernandez, midfielder for Chelsea, posted a video on Instagram of the team chanting about the French National team. They are singing about the players being from Africa but documented as French. It targets Mbappe directly, whose father is from Cameroon, and his mother is from Algeria. Shortly after posting the video, his Chelsea teammate and French national player, Wesley Fofana unfollowed him from social media and made a statement condemning Enzo. 

    Other French national players such as Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashille were quick to follow suit in unfollowing and condemning their Chelsea teammate. Now, Enzo is under investigation by the Club to decide what disciplinary action, if any, will be taken. This is definitely not what the club needs after all that has gone on. Chelsea was just beginning to unite toward the end of last season and finished 6th, qualifying for a European tournament. A Chelsea player was instrumental in winning the Euro 2024 with Spain and the Copa America 2024, so things were looking bright for the new coach, Enzo Maresca. Now, he is going to have to reconcile a team torn apart by racism. 

    Some players jumped to Enzo Fernandez's defense. One of those teammates is Nicolas Jackson, who is an African player for the Senegal National team. He posted this about his teammate. There is a short video of Enzo playfully interacting with a young fan and a photograph of them during training. 

 Other players such as Marc Guiu, new signing for Chelsea, posted this in support. 

Enzo has since posted an apology on his Instagram in an attempt to smooth things over with fans and his offended teammates. It is understandable why the French teammates in particular are most offended by the song. The chant targets them and their captain directly. Here is the post below: 

This has caught international attention. Even the vice president of Argentina has chimed in to defend Enzo and the song. Victoria Villarruel speaks of Argentinian pride and criticizes French colonialism. The post reads as follows: "Argentina is a sovereign and free country. We never had colonies or second-class citizens. We never imposed our way of life on anyone. But we are not going to tolerate them doing it to us either. Argentina was made with sweat and courage of the Indians, the Europeans, the Creoles and the blacks like Remedios del Valle, Sergeant Cabral and Bernardo de Monteagudo. No colonialist country is going to intimidate us for a court song or for telling the truths that they do not want to admit. simulate indignation, hypocrites. Enzo, I'll bench you, Messi, thank you for everything! Argentines always with their heads held high! Long live Argentinity!"

Chelsea FC has made a statement on Enzo Fernandez recently that read as follows: "Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behavior completely unacceptable. We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome. The Club has instigated an internal disciplinary procedure." They see this as an opportunity for education and will decide a course of action soon. 

The hope from fans is that the team will reconcile their differences and be ready to play together when the season starts. Racism is unacceptable and the Premiere League takes a strong stance against racism, as they should. However, forgiveness is also a powerful tool for reconciliation. Let's hope that the bridge isn't burned, but the Blues can bounce back stronger than ever. 

Where do you stand? What do you think the club should do with Enzo?