“This song contains extremely offensive words and there is absolutely no excuse for these words,” Fernandez wrote (via ESPN). “I am against discrimination in any form and I apologize for getting caught up in the celebratory mood of the Copa America.”
“That video, that moment and those words do not reflect my beliefs or character,” he continued.
The French Football Federation said in a statement early Tuesday that its president had contacted soccer's international governing body FIFA to file a legal complaint. The federation said FFF president Philippe Diallo “condemns in the strongest terms the unacceptable racist and discriminatory comments made against French players in the song sung by players and supporters after Argentina's victory in the Copa America.”
Among those who responded strongly to the video on Tuesday was France defender Wesley Fofana, who has Ivorian parental ties and is Fernandes' teammate at Chelsea in the English Premier League.
“Football 2024: racism unchecked,” Fofana wrote in French on social media, adding a face-covering emoji.
Chelsea, who signed Fernandes from Portuguese club Benfica for a record $131 million last year, are investigating the video, according to Sky News.
The aftermath of the video is the latest controversy to emerge from the Copa America, which ended Sunday with Argentina beating Colombia 1-0 in extra time in the final in Miami Gardens, Florida. The match was postponed for nearly 90 minutes after fans who didn't have tickets but wanted to watch the game at Hard Rock Stadium flooded the gates, overwhelming arena staff. The gates were closed for a time while stadium and tournament officials and police struggled to handle the chaotic situation. Miami-Dade Police said Monday that officers made 27 arrests and removed 55 people.
Among those arrested at the stadium was Colombian Football Federation president Ramon Jeslon, who was detained after the match ended. The 71-year-old Jeslon and his son allegedly assaulted several event staff who were briefly blocking the stadium's tunnel from entering the field. The Colombian Football Federation said on Tuesday that it and Jeslon regretted the incident.
During the Copa del Rey semi-final, Uruguayan players brawled in the stands at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium after Colombia won 1-0. CONMEBOL, the South American governing body that runs the tournament, responded by saying “intolerance and violence will not be tolerated on or off the field.”
“Our work is based on the belief that football connects and unites us through its positive values,” CONMEBOL said at the time.
CONMEBOL had no immediate comment on Fernandez's video on Tuesday. FIFA similarly introduced what it called a “strong anti-racism” program in May. Among the proposed measures was recognizing racism as a crime in all countries. In what was believed to be the first ruling of its kind, three Spanish fans were jailed for racist heckling Vinicius Junior, a black Brazilian Real Madrid star who has frequently criticized his treatment in Spain.
Comments heard in Fernandez's video also contained transphobic undertones, including a version of a chant sung by Argentina fans during the 2022 World Cup that appeared to be aimed at France star Kylian Mbappe.
The French Football Federation said on Tuesday that its president had sent messages of complaint to “our Argentine colleagues” and to FIFA directly. The FFF said the words heard in the video were “shocking” and “contrary to the values of sport and human rights.”
