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.
FIFA investigating Argentina bus video
FIFA have opened an investigation into Argentina and their players for the chant in the bus.
(Source: AFP) pic.twitter.com/h4x3TEVvvl— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) July 17, 2024
Argentina's Copa America winners were filmed singing a racist chant. Its xenophobic lyrics partly mock the French national team.
"They play for France,
but they are from Angola.
His mother is Nigerian,
his father Cameroonian,
but on the passport: French"pic.twitter.com/0vfQcaPPRT— DW Sports (@dw_sports) July 16, 2024
"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."
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana described the video posted to social media by his club teammate Enzo Fernandez as "uninhibited racism".
Fernandez later apologized on social media, saying he had gotten "caught up in the euphoria of our celebrations."
"The song included highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words," he wrote.
Enzo Fernández on Instagram in response to a viral video of him and other Argentina players singing about French players with African heritage. pic.twitter.com/LsYyxqoFnP
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 16, 2024
The Premier League side said in a statement on Wednesday: "Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable. We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome."
Chelsea FC has published the following statement...
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 17, 2024
France striker Kylian Mbappé and other players of African descent on the national team received racist abuse after losing to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final.
Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 to collect a record 16th Copa title on Sunday in Miami Gardens.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, Editing by Christian Radnedge)
