Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul have come to the defense of their Argentina teammate Enzo Fernandez regarding an offensive chant that has sparked racism accusations from the French Football Federation and numerous fans worldwide, Soccernet.football reports.
Fernandez has already apologized both publicly and privately after live streaming a video in which he and many Argentine players celebrated their Copa America victory by singing a transphobic, discriminatory chant about the French squad they defeated in the 2022 World Cup final.
Argentina midfielder Mac Allister has come to Fernandez’s defense, noting that Fernandez was not the only player involved in singing the chant. Mac Allister also argued that Europe’s perception of racism is softer compared to that in South America.
“Enzo has already apologized, and he explained what happened. There’s nothing more to add,” the Liverpool star told Argentinian radio station Urbana Play.
“We know Enzo, we know he would never do it with bad intention. It’s more of a chant that stuck and it’s more in a mocking tone than anything else. The most important thing is that Enzo apologized and we have to give value to that.”
Fofana, a French international, labeled the video as “uninhibited racism” and emphasized that “these acts have no place in football or anywhere else.”
Reports indicate a rift in the Chelsea dressing room over the response to the issue, with several of the team’s black players unfollowing Fernandez on social media.
Fofana’s decision to express his disappointment publicly did not sit well with another Argentina international, Atletico Madrid’s Rodrigo de Paul.
“It happens that one doesn’t analyze pitch songs,” the Atletico Madrid midfielder said.
“I can understand people that have suffered racism and all of that, don’t like it. But there are ways. If Enzo’s [club] teammates felt offended, the way to do it is to call him not to put in on social media. I think there is a bit of malice or to put Enzo in a place that he absolutely shouldn’t be in.”