In recent days, football has been rocked by a new controversy involving Enzo Fernandez.
The Chelsea midfielder recently shared a video on social media showing his Argentina team singing a chant deemed racist while on the team bus.
This footage, filmed shortly after Argentina’s Copa America triumph over Colombia, has ignited significant criticism.
Argentina’s victory in the Copa America was overshadowed by the backlash over the chant.
The song, which had also surfaced during the 2022 World Cup, contains offensive lyrics directed at French players and includes derogatory comments about transgender people. Fernandez quickly apologized on social media, but the damage was done.
His Chelsea teammate, Wesley Fofana, labeled the chant as “uninhibited racism,” and Chelsea has announced an internal investigation into the matter.
This isn’t the first time South American footballers have been caught up in racism scandals.
Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez, now with Inter Miami CF, was banned for eight matches and fined £40,000 by the Football Association (FA) in 2011.
Suarez was found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra, a charge he denied.
The FA’s decision was met with strong support from Liverpool, Suarez’s then-club, which questioned the fairness of the ruling given that no one else on the field had witnessed the alleged incident.
Edinson Cavani faced a three-match ban and a £100,000 fine from the FA in 2020 for using a racial term on Instagram.
Cavani, who played for Manchester United at the time, had posted a message that he later claimed was meant as an affectionate gesture.
Despite his apology and acceptance of the penalty, the incident highlighted issues of cultural differences and racial sensitivity.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Rodrigo Bentancur found himself in hot water this year after making a comment on Uruguayan TV that many considered racially insensitive.
He joked that South Koreans “all look the same,” which led to a public apology.
Son Heung-min, his teammate, accepted the apology, and Spurs emphasized their commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho was scrutinized by the FA for using ‘gorilla’ emojis in a social media post.
The FA chose not to pursue charges after Garnacho explained the emojis were meant to represent power and strength. The incident served as a reminder of the importance of context in social media communications.
Ezequiel Lavezzi
Ezequiel Lavezzi, a former Argentina international, faced backlash after making a gesture that many interpreted as offensive during a photo shoot with Hebei CFFC.
He claimed the gesture was meant to be humorous and apologized if it caused any offense, emphasizing his positive experiences in China.
Federico Valverde
Lastly, Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde was criticized for making a controversial gesture during a goal celebration at the U20 World Cup in 2017. Valverde, then just 18, was accused of performing a racist gesture, though he denied any such intent and apologized for any misunderstanding.
Moving Forward
These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges in football regarding racism and cultural sensitivity. As the sport continues to evolve, it remains crucial for players, clubs, and governing bodies to address these issues with seriousness and empathy.
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