Enzo Fernandez has apologised for the video (Picture: Getty/Instagram)
Former Argentina icon Javier Mascherano has leapt to the defence of Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez as the midfielder comes under increasing scrutiny following footage of him singing a racist chant.
The short clip, filmed after Argentina’s Copa America win on Sunday, captured Fernandez and his Argentina teammates singing a racist and transphobic song aimed at black French players.
The chant, which was first sung by Argentina supporters during the 2022 World Cup, claims that France’s players are ‘all from Angola’ and makes a vile reference to a reported relationship between Kylian Mbappe and transgender model Ines Rau.
The 23-year-old has since apologised for the video but has faced severe backlash, with Chelsea and FIFA have both opening investigations into the incident.
However former Argentine international Mascherano has sought do defend his fellow countrymen following the scandal, suggesting that some of the video had been taken out of content.
‘If there is something that we Argentines are not, it is racists, far from it,’ the former Liverpool and Barcelona star told Argentine outlet Ole.
‘If there is something that we are as a country, it is totally inclusive. In Argentina, people from all over the world live and we treat them as they should be treated.
Javier Mascherano has leapt to Fernandez’s defence (Picture: Getty)
‘I know Enzo, he’s a great guy and he has no problem with that. What happens is that many times during a celebration, a part of a video can be taken out of context.
‘You have to understand the culture of each country and know that sometimes what we perceive as a joke can be misinterpreted in other places.
‘Enzo also made it known on social media that he was apologising. Sometimes people try to make things much bigger than they are.’
Teammate Nicolas Jackson also looked to defend Fernandez on Instagram following the scandal, but the midfielder, who plays alongside several prominent black French players, has been come under fire from two other members of his Chelsea dressing room.
Centre-back Wesley Fofana reposted a clip of the video with the short caption: ‘Football in 2024: uninhibited racism.’
Striker David Datro Fofana, meanwhile, released a lengthier statement insisting that racism should have ‘no place in football or even anywhere else’.
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