Chelsea investigating 'racist' chant sung by Enzo Fernandez with locker room furious

Enzo Fernandez has found himself at the center of a storm after footage emerged showing him and his Argentina teammates engaging in an allegedly racist chant .

The Chelsea star is facing intense backlash for sharing a video where he, along with his national squad, can be heard singing an allegedly racially charged song directed at the French team and Kylian Mbappe following their Copa America final victory over Colombia on Sunday. The incident is now under investigation by Chelsea.

Despite issuing an apology for the distasteful chant, the fallout continues as several of his Chelsea colleagues have taken action. French players Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, and Wesley Fofana seem to have unfollowed Fernandez on Instagram, with the latter condemning the act by reposting the video on X and his Instagram story, captioning it: "Football in 2024: uninhibited racism".

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The soccer community has been left shocked by the chant, which included both allegedly racist and transphobic language. The Argentine players were captured on camera loudly singing the offensive lyrics: "On passport, French nationality, listen, spread the word, they play in France, but they are all..." - before someone is heard saying "cut the video".

The chant that's been causing a stir suggests that some of the French squad members with African and Caribbean roots aren't genuinely French, as it goes: "Listen, spread the word, they play in France, but they are all from Angola, they are going to run well, they like to sleep with trans people, their mum is Nigerian, their dad is Cameroonian, but on the passport it says: French".

It's been hinted that the transphobic part of the chant was targeting Mbappe, the team's captain, due to previous rumors about an alleged connection with transgender model Ines Rau.

Fernandez has since come forward with an apology through a statement. It read: "I want to apologise sincerely for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations, 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."

Chelsea, on Wednesday, confirmed it's taking action with an "internal disciplinary procedure". The club's statement read: "Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable," the statement read. We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome.

"We acknowledge and appreciate our player’s public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate. The club has instigated an internal disciplinary procedure."

With the Premier League 2024/25 season only a month away, its clear that the Blues manager Enzo Maresca has his work cut out for him in bridging divides within the current dressing room.