"Speaking about the episode for the first time to GiveMeSport, Fernandez said: "What happened [being accused of singing a racist song] is not typical of who I am." Fernandez, who became Chelsea's vice-captain that summer under manager Enzo Maresca, explained how he cut short his post-tournament holiday to apologise in person during their pre-season tour of the United States, when he also released a written statement saying he was "truly sorry.""
"He added: "It was a tough time, but my team-mates understood me. "It was a euphoric moment in which I didn't want to hurt anyone. It was just a song that we sing in Argentina as part of 'football folklore', as we call it. "I tried to apologise to the squad to show my team-mates that I'm not the type to discriminate or judge others. They understood my message and that's where it all ended.""
Enzo Fernandez filmed himself and Argentina teammates singing offensive songs after winning the Copa America. Wesley Fofana criticised the footage as "uninhibited racism" and later accepted an apology. Fernandez cut short his post-tournament holiday to apologise in person during Chelsea's pre-season tour in the United States and issued a written statement saying he was "truly sorry." Chelsea named him vice-captain that summer under manager Enzo Maresca. The French Football Federation filed a complaint to FIFA calling the video "racist and discriminatory" for targeting players' ethnicity. No punishment was issued by the Premier League, Football Association or UEFA because the matter fell under South American jurisdiction.
Read at www.bbc.com
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