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22nd July 2024
10:41am BST
Enzo Fernández's return to boyhood club River Plate was marred by supporters singing offensive song aimed at France and their black players.
Fernández returned to the club where he began his career to celebrate Argentina's recent Copa America success.
Their win was overshadowed however after footage of the 23-year-old and his teammates singing a discriminatory song aimed at France's black football players and their heritage went viral.
Argentina and Fernández have been publicly condemned for the chants. Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana described the chant as "uninhibited racism" while French members of the Premier League side unfollowed him on Instagram.
Due to his late end to the season Fernández is currently back in his homeland taking some time off before returning to Chelsea for the Premier League campaign and when paraded around River Plate's Estadio Mas Monumental, fans once again began to sing the same song.
O meia Enzo Fernández, do Chelsea, foi homenageado pela diretoria do River Plate no intervalo do jogo contra o Lanús.
— LIBERTA DEPRE (@liberta___depre) July 21, 2024
No momento da homenagem, a torcida do River entoou no Estádio Monumental de Núñez, a música racista e transfóbica contra os jogadores franceses.
"Escutem,… pic.twitter.com/GTYIxxCMg4
Since going viral, Fernández has apologised for the "highly offensive" chant while Chelsea released a statement condemning "all forms of discriminatory behaviour" and have launched their own investigation.
Not everyone in Argentina has been the same though as high-profile public figures have come out and defended the midfielder.
Nothing has been confirmed as of yet however the 23-year-old could be handed a 12-game ban for taking part in the racist and transphobic chanting, according to a sports lawyer via the Daily Mail.
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