Former Liverpool and Barcelona star Javier Mascherano has rushed to the defense of Enzo Fernandez and his Argentina teammates, claiming that the racist song they sang about French footballers was “taken out of context.”
A video posted on social media by Fernandez following Argentina’s Copa America triumph on Sunday showed the Chelsea star and several of his international teammates singing a controversial song that appeared to claim that French players are from Angola or have a Nigerian mother and a Cameroonian father.
The footage has sparked outrage across the football world, with the French Football Federation describing the song as “racist and discriminatory” and Fernandez’s Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana accusing him of “uninhibited racism.”
The West London club has confirmed they are investigating the matter, while the French FA has vowed to send a legal complaint to FIFA, world football’s governing body.
Javier Mascherano has leapt to the defence of Enzo Fernandez and his Argentina team-mates, insisting that the racist song they sang about French footballers was ‘taken out of context’
Chelsea’s Fernandez filmed a video of the Argentina team singing a racist chant about France
Following the racism storm, Chelsea are now set for a dressing room civil war ahead of Enzo Maresca’s first season at the club, with Benoit Badiashile, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku, David Fofana, Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Romeo Lavia, and Fofana all unfollowing the Argentine midfielder on Instagram this week.
Mascherano, who made 147 appearances for the Argentina national team, has leapt to Fernandez’s defence, insisting his countrymen are “not racists.”
“If there is something that we Argentines are not, it is racists, far from it,” the former Liverpool and Barcelona star told Ole.
“If there is something that we are as a country, it is totally inclusive. In Argentina, people from all over the world live and we treat them as they should be treated.”
Mascherano went on to add that Fernandez will have “no problem” with the droves of Chelsea stars unfollowing him on social media and suggested that the investigation seems somewhat exaggerated.
He added: “I know Enzo, he’s a great guy and he has no problem with that. What happens is that many times during a celebration, a part of a video can be taken out of context.
“You have to understand the culture of each country and know that sometimes what we perceive as a joke can be misinterpreted in other places.”
Argentina were celebrating winning a second successive Copa America title on Sunday night
Malo Gusto (right) is one of multiple Chelsea stars to unfollow Fernandez on Instagram
Fernandez has taken to social media to apologise for his actions after Argentina’s win.
“I want to apologise for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations,” his message began.
“The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words. I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologise for getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations.
“That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character. I am truly sorry.”