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Former Chelsea star William Gallas has revealed he was ‘very angry’ about the Enzo Fernandez video which has led to an ongoing racism storm.
The 46-year-old criticised the footage, which sees the Argentina team singing about how French players are ‘from Angola’ or have a ‘Nigerian’ mother and a ‘Cameroonian’ father, and branded it ‘offensive to all black players’.
Ex-France international Gallas made 225 appearances for Chelsea between 2001 and 2006 before moving across London to Arsenal.
Now Gallas has weighed in on the racism saga which is currently engulfing football and admitted he felt the impact of Fernandez’s video ‘very personally’.
Enzo Fernandez pictured during the Copa America semi-final on July 9. Now former Chelsea star William Gallas has revealed he was ‘very angry’ about the midfielder’s viral video
Gallas criticised the footage (pictured) which sees the Argentina team singing about how French players are ‘from Angola’ or have a ‘Nigerian’ mother and a ‘Cameroonian’ father,
Gallas (pictured, in 2017) has weighed in on the racism saga which is currently engulfing football and admitted he felt the impact of Fernandez’s video ‘very personally’
He told Gambling Zone: ‘It was like they were singing about me and all the other black players that represent their countries.
‘I can’t imagine the reaction of the Chelsea players when they saw that video. I was very angry about it, and I put something on my social media saying that it was unacceptable.
‘It would have offended Nico Williams. It would have offended Lamine Yamal. It would have offended the black and mixed-race players that play for England.’
The former Chelsea man also slammed Rodrigo de Paul for defending teammate Fernandez and suggesting that French international Wesley Fofana contact the Argentina midfielder instead of his expressing his anger online.
Gallas argued it was Fernandez’s responsibility to call Fofana, and all his Chelsea teammates, and apologise for the video.
He added that the Chelsea midfielder may find a different dressing room when he returns to the club and that some colleagues may have a tough time accepting him back in to the fold.
Gallas’s comments come after Argentina’s national anthem was booed ahead of their first match of the Olympics in Paris against Morocco.
And just over an hour after kick-off in the football, Argentina’s rugby sevens side were loudly booed ahead of their clash against Kenya.
Ex-France international Gallas (pictured, in 2005) made 225 appearances for Chelsea between 2001 and 2006 before moving across London to Arsenal
Rodrigo de Paul (left) has called for people ‘not to add fuel to the fire’ or ‘make situation into a show’
Fernandez took to social media to apologise for his actions following the criticism over singing a ‘racist’ chant
Argentina had their national anthem booed amid a racism storm surrounding Enzo Fernandez
The boos drowning out the anthem came just over a week after Fernandez filmed himself and his Argentina team-mates singing a chant directed at France’s black players following their Copa America triumph.
The song, which also singles out Kylian Mbappe, was condemned by the French Football Federation who filed a complaint to FIFA.
Fernandez’s Chelsea team-mate Wesley Fofana also reposted the video and labelled the chant ‘uninhibited racism’ before unfollowing Fernandez on Instagram.
Two other Chelsea players – Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi – also unfollowed Fernandez.
The midfielder subsequently apologised for the video and insisted he is not racist, while Chelsea reacted by condemning ‘all forms of discriminatory behaviour’ prior to conducting their own investigation.
But fans inside the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium and the Stade de France had clearly not forgotten what has gone on in recent days, and made their feelings clear how they felt about the behaviour of the Argentina footballers last week.
France’s former football captain Hugo Lloris described the controversial song as an ‘attack on French people’ this week and urged that it was a mistake that must been learned from.
‘It doesn’t matter if you are in a moment of euphoria because you have won an important trophy,’ he told BBC Sport. ‘It demands even more responsibility when you are a winner.
‘You don’t want to hear or see this kind of thing in football. We all stand against discrimination and racism.
‘I just think and hope it is a mistake. We all make mistakes sometimes and hopefully they will learn from it.’
Relations between France and Argentina worsened after the tense and enthralling 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, which saw Lionel Messi and Co narrowly win on penalties following a 3-3 draw.
Kylian Mbappe, who netted a hat-trick in the showpiece, was ruthlessly mocked as part of Argentina’s overjubilant celebrations.
Argentina’s rugby sevens stars were also booed while singing their national anthem in Paris
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris described the controversial song as an ‘attack on French people’
Enzo Fernandez was paraded by his boyhood club River Plate on Sunday
Footage shared on social media showed fans in the stadium signing the chant aimed at France’s black players
Despite playing a key role in Argentina’s World Cup and Copa America triumphs, Fernandez is not playing at the Olympics and is currently enjoying time away from the pitch ahead of the new season with Chelsea.
He was paraded at his old club River Plate over the weekend, only for the whole crowd to start singing the chant aimed at France’s black players once more.
The storm surrounding Fernandez is refusing to go away, but Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has insisted he is ready to welcome Fernandez back into his squad next week when he returns from his holiday.
