The revealing moment in the video of Enzo Fernandez and other Argentinian players singing a racist song about France after their victory in the Copa America final is the voice heard at the end.
“Corta (el) vivo,” someone says — “stop the live stream.”
They are aware. They know the offensiveness of what they are saying, and they understand the repercussions if the outside world hears it.
There is no room for ambiguity. The words are explicit, and we recognize them because it is a song that has been circulating for some time.
The lyrics of the chant were: “They play for France, but their parents are from Angola. Their mother is from Cameroon, while their father is from Nigeria. But their passport says French.”
The song in question originated from a group of Argentina fans before the 2022 World Cup final, previously identified by French anti-racist protestors as an “expression of a far-right ideology”.
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It is regrettable that Argentina, bolstered by their World Cup victory, did not distance themselves further from the song. The players’ incorporation of it into their celebrations is even more disheartening. It reflects an unpleasant collective mindset and prevailing culture that these players, in a moment of triumph, would choose such a song for their revelry.
Furthermore, in addition to the blatant racism, there is evident transphobia in play. The full lyrics of the song mention French players as “cometravas, like Mbappe.” “Cometravas” is a derogatory term referring to “someone who has sex with transgender people”.
Football, in general, has taken positive steps to create a more inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. Players who reject participation in anti-homophobia campaigns are scarce, and repercussions are often administered — like the suspension of Monaco midfielder Mohamed Camara for covering up an anti-homophobia message on his shirt last season.
Actions like this song hinder efforts to foster a more welcoming atmosphere in football.
Not only is the song itself and the players’ joy in singing it distressing, but the aftermath is equally troubling.
Fernandez issued a somewhat apologetic statement, attributing his actions to being “caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations” and claiming the song does not “reflect my character or beliefs”. It is ironic that he also declared, “I stand against discrimination in all forms”. It is likely that if he is compelled to participate in an anti-racism campaign in the future, his words will ring hollow.
Chelsea responded responsibly, issuing a statement outlining their stance and values, stating that they view this as “an opportunity to educate” and initiating an internal disciplinary process.
It remains to be seen what will result from this process, as if Fernandez were a fan caught singing the song at Stamford Bridge, he would likely face a lengthy stadium ban.
Despite that, the reaction has been quite muted.
Wesley Fofana, the French defender at Chelsea, described it as “uninhibited racism”. David Datro Fofana, the club’s Ivorian striker, posted a statement on Instagram condemning racism in all forms and stressing the seriousness with which the fight against racism should be handled in the sport.
David Datro Fofana has also condemned the incident (Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
Most notably, only black players have publicly addressed the incident so far. No white players have denounced the song. While some of Fofana’s white teammates may have expressed support privately, there has been no public condemnation from them.
Unfortunately, it is often the burden of black players to respond emotionally and deal with the mental repercussions of such racist incidents. The prevalent notion that racism is solely a black issue is damaging to all and isolates black players, implying that it is not a concern for others.
Imagine the impact of a white player standing up unprompted to denounce the song. It would not only be a symbolic gesture but hold significant weight.
At present, the clubs of the other players in the video have chosen not to comment. It may be challenging to definitively identify the singers in the video, but the collective silence on the issue is apparent.
It is hoped that in due course, these clubs will address the matter with their Argentinian players, emphasizing their responsibilities not only as footballers but as human beings. Currently, it seems they are avoiding the issue.
Even if identifying the individuals singing is complex, those who remained silent while the racist song was sung likely deserve reprimand. It is reasonable to expect the clubs to acknowledge the incident, investigate further, and administer appropriate consequences if any players were involved.
Thus far, Chelsea is the solitary club to have taken action, though it should be noted that they could not have overlooked the situation.
However, the general lack of response from others in the football community despite elaborate campaigns and initiatives aimed at combating racism raises doubts about the seriousness of football’s commitment to tackling racism.
(Header photo: Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)