Enzo Fernandez racism row: Alexis Mac Allister backs Argentine teammate

Fernández apologised this week after he posted a video on Instagram following his team’s 1-0 win over Colombia in the Copa América final that showed him and other Argentina players singing an offensive song that singled out France players of African heritage.

Chelsea and FIFA have opened an investigation into the incident after the French Football Federation (FFF) announced it would file a legal complaint over “racist and discriminatory remarks” made by Fernández and his Argentina teammates.

Mac Allister, who does not appear on the video, told Argentinian radio station Urbana play: “Enzo has already apologised, and he explained what happened. There’s nothing more to add.

“We know Enzo, we know he would never do it with bad intention. It’s more of a chant that stuck and it’s more in a mocking tone than anything else. The most important thing is that Enzo apologised and we have to give value to that.”

The same chants — by some Argentina fans — emerged before France and Argentina met in the 2022 World Cup final, which Argentina won.

Fernández’s club teammates Wesley Fofana and Christopher Nkunku of France have both expressed their discontent.

Mac Allister said his country is not racist.

“The reality is that here we are not a racist country,” he said. “We are not accustomed to talk about racism. It’s an important topic.

“You have to be careful with what one does and one says, especially in Europe because it’s more sensitive there.”