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COPA AMÉRICA 2024

France defender Fofana accuses Enzo Fernández and Argentina of racism: what did they sing?

Argentina players were filmed singing “racially offensive and discriminatory” songs after their Copa América 2024 victory, with Fofana calling out Chelsea teammate Fernández.

Argentina players were filmed singing “racially offensive and discriminatory” songs after their Copa América 2024 victory, with Fofana calling out Chelsea teammate Fernández.
Agustin MarcarianREUTERS

France defender Wesley Fofana has accused Chelsea teammate Enzo Fernández and other members of the Argentina squad of “uninhibited racism” during their Copa América 2024 celebrations in the United States.

Following their 1-0 victory over Colombia in Miami Gardens, Fernández posted a video of jubilant Argentina players singing songs that included racist and xenophobic slurs at members of the French national team.

Part of the lyrics roughly translates to: “They play for France, but they are from Angola. His mother is Nigerian, his father Cameroonian, but on the passport: French”.

Why is there beef between Argentina and France national teams?

Tensions have been running high between the Argentinian and French national teams since the 2022 World Cup final, which Lionel Messi and Co won after a penalty shootout.

In additional to his antics during and after the final, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was seen carrying around a doll of a baby with Kylian Mbappé's face on it as Argentina celebrated winning the tournament.

The new Real Madrid attacker also got into a war of words of sorts with Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni and Messi over whether the European Championship or Copa América was an “easier” tournament to win.

Fofana, who didn’t play at Euro 2024, reposted club teammate Fernández’s video with the text “Football in 2024: uninhibited racism”.

French Football Federation files legal complaint against Argentina

The French Football Federation has issued a statement condemning the chanting and said it had filed a legal complaint against Argentina “for insulting remarks of a racist and discriminatory nature”. Chelsea are also reportedly investigating the video.

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