Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has stated that his teammate Enzo Fernandez is “not racist” and has accepted an apology from the Argentine midfielder, who was caught on video singing a derogatory song about black players from France.
After Argentina’s 1-0 win against Colombia in the Copa America final on July 14, Fernandez faced accusations of “uninhibited racism” from Fofana due to a video shared on his social media.
However, Fofana, who later removed his initial post, confirmed that Fernandez has since apologized and “did not understand” the implications of the song he performed.
Following an internal review, Chelsea will not impose any penalties on Fernandez, as the matter has now been resolved.
“I have faith in him because I know him,” Fofana expressed to British reporters during Chelsea’s pre-season training in the United States.
“I believe he is not a racist. The situation… it made me feel a bit upset. But now, it’s over. It’s behind us.
“I hope this experience helps him learn, as it is undoubtedly a different context. We need to promote awareness regarding this matter because cultural perspectives can vary significantly across countries.”
Fernandez has also decided to make a voluntary donation to an anti-discrimination charity, which Chelsea has agreed to match.
