Wesley Fofana says he is glad to have cleared the air with Chelsea teammate Enzo Fernandez but the Argentina international must learn from the racism storm that engulfed the team during pre-season.
A video of Fernandez and his national team singing a derogatory song about the French in the aftermath of their Copa America triumph caused scandal.
A number of Blues players publicly called out Fernandez, including Fofana, who called it ‘uninhibited racism’.
The midfielder, who has since linked up with his club squad for their pre-season tour of the United States, has apologised in public and to his Chelsea teammates, though he and his international colleagues remain the subject of a FIFA investigation.
Speaking to journalists at his side’s training camp, Fofana defended Fernandez and said he is not a racist.
Fofana said: “He [Fernandez] arrived [on Monday] and we talked with the manager. We talked together. I explained why I didn’t like the video. He [Fernandez] explained, he said sorry because he did not want to hurt French fans or anyone. He did not understand when singing it.
“I trust him because I know him. I know he is not racist. The act…I felt a little bit upset. But now, it is done. It is finished.
“Of course [I deleted my tweet] because we talked together, we play for the same club and badge and train together. Now I understand him. He understands me. Everybody is happy.
“Enzo is a big player in Argentina. I hope this has educated him a bit, because for sure, it is a different culture.
“For sure, I know Enzo. He is not racist. It is just the video is bad. It’s not only Enzo. It’s the Argentinian team.
“I posted [on X] this because I felt upset about the video. Enzo is in the video but if he was from another country, I would have posted the same thing. For sure, it was a big story because we play in the same team. But now it is done. I’m happy with this situation. He said sorry, I trust him and that is the most important thing.”
Fofana and Fernandez both played in Chelsea‘s first pre-season win of the summer as Enzo Maresca’s side bounced back from a dismal defeat to Celtic with a comprehensive 3-0 beating of Club America.
What we know
- Wesley Fofana speaks about Enzo Fernandez after racism storm
- Frenchman called out Argentine over discriminatory video from Copa America celebrations
- Fernandez has apologised and been reintegrated into Enzo Maresca’s squad.