(Reuters) – FIFA is investigating a video circulating on social media that showed some members of the Argentina national team singing about France’s players that the French Football Federation decried as “racist and discriminatory”.
The FFF said on Monday that it would file a complaint to the global soccer governing body over the video, in which Argentina players were celebrating winning the Copa America.
“FIFA is aware of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being looked into,” a FIFA spokesperson said in a statement. “FIFA strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anyone including players, fans and officials.”
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana described the video posted to social media by his club team mate Enzo Fernandez as “uninhibited racism”.
Fernandez later apologised on social media, saying he had gotten “caught up in the euphoria of our celebrations.”
“The song included highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words,” he wrote.
The Premier League side said in a statement on Wednesday: “Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable. We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome.”
France striker Kylian Mbappe and other players of African descent on the national team received racist abuse after losing to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final.
Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 to collect a record 16th Copa title on Sunday in Miami Gardens.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
