Rodrigo De Paul slams Wesley Fofana for criticising Argentina team-mate Enzo Fernandez on social media following controversial Copa America celebrations

Fernandez has faced severe backlash from his Chelsea teammates for his alleged racist chants during a controversial celebration following Argentina's Copa America victory. Although the player has issued a public apology for his actions, it has failed to melt the ice and the Blues have already opened an internal disciplinary proceeding.

Enzo Fernandez Instagram

The controversy has led to significant fallout among Fernandez's Chelsea teammates. Fofana called the chant "uninhibited racism," and several Chelsea players, including Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, and Lesley Ugochukwu, unfollowed Fernandez on Instagram.

In response to the criticism, De Paul spoke out in support of Fernandez and emphasized that the chants were not meant to be taken literally.

"You don’t analyse the songs that much. I can understand people who have suffered racism and don’t like it, but then there is a place for everything," he said while speaking on Olga en Vivo, viaDiario AS.

"If someone or a colleague of Enzo feels offended, the way to go about it is to call him if you know him personally, not to put it on social networks. There is a bit of malice in it, or maybe wanting to put Enzo in a spot that he has nothing to do with. You don’t have to add fuel to the fire, or make it into a show.”

Another Argentina player, Alexis Mac Allister, also defended Fernandez, offering his perspective during an interview with Argentina's Urbana Play FM. The Liverpool star insisted that Argentina is not accustomed to discussing racism as extensively as in Europe and asserted that "we are not a racist country."

The controversy surrounding Fernandez’s participation in the offensive chant underscores the need for greater awareness and sensitivity towards issues of racism and discrimination in football. The incident has reportedly caused a significant dressing room rift at Stamford Bridge and Enzo Maresca must douse the off-the-pitch fire as quickly as possible before focusing on tactics on the pitch.