FIFA is investigating a video circulating on social media that showed some members of the Argentina national team singing about France's players that the French Football Federation decried as "racist and discriminatory".
The FFF said on Monday that it would file a complaint to the global soccer governing body over the video, in which Argentina players were celebrating winning the Copa America.
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"FIFA is aware of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being looked into," a FIFA spokesperson said in a statement. "FIFA strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anyone including players, fans and officials."
Fernandez later apologized on social media, saying he had gotten "caught up in the euphoria of our celebrations."
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"The song included highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words," he wrote. "I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologize for getting caught up in the euphoria of our celebrations. That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character."
The Premier League side said in a statement on Wednesday: "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."
Uninhibited racism
The video, posted by Argentina international Fernandez on his Instagram account, featured a song sung by some of the Argentina squad about France's players.
The French Football Federation said that faced with the seriousness of these shocking remarks, contrary to the values of sport and human rights, the president of the FFF decided to directly appeal to his Argentinian counterpart and FIFA and to file a legal complaint for racially offensive and discriminatory remarks.
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France international Fofana commented on the video on social media platform X, writing: “Football in 2024: uninhibited racism." The comment was accompanied by a clip from the video.
British media reported that Chelsea were investigating the video.
France striker Kylian Mbappe and other players of African descent on the national team received racist abuse after they lost to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final, prompting a senior French cabinet member to call for a FIFA investigation.
Argentina beat Colombia to collect a record 16th Copa America title on Sunday.
