Nicolas Jackson appears to support Chelsea teammate Enzo Fernandez amid wave of racist chants in Argentina
Nicolas Jackson has posted a photo with Enzo Fernandez after the midfielder sparked outrage for appearing to sing a racist chant.
Fernandez went live on Instagram after Argentina's Copa America win at the weekend, filming himself and his teammates. Join the derogatory song.
The song refers to the number of French players of African descent. A translated version reads: “They play for France, but their parents are from Angola. Their mother is from Cameroon, while their father is from Nigeria. But their passport says French.”
The Chelsea player was quickly criticised by his Blues teammate, Frenchman Wesley Fofana, on social media.
The defender, whose father is of Ivorian descent, reposted Fernandez's clip on his story, describing it as “uninhibited racism.”
He and the rest of Chelsea's French players have unfollowed Fernandez on Instagram.
However, Senegalese and Blues striker Jackson now appears to have thrown his support behind his under-fire teammate, posting an old photo of the two of them together on his Instagram Story.
The pair are seen sitting together at an earlier training session, with Marc Cucurella also in the background.
Jackson also reposted a clip of Fernandez with a young fan, alongside a black hand making a fist with a white hand and a red heart.
Fernandez has since apologized for his original post.
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“I would like to sincerely apologize for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations.
“The song includes some very offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for those words.
“I oppose discrimination in all its forms and I apologize for getting carried away by the euphoria of our America Cup celebrations.
“That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character. I am truly sorry.”
Chelsea addressed the Fernandez video in a statement Wednesday morning.
The club said: “Chelsea Football Club finds any form of discriminatory behaviour absolutely unacceptable. We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome.
“We acknowledge and appreciate our player's public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate.
“The club has initiated an internal disciplinary procedure.”
The French Football Federation has also filed a complaint with FIFA.
The governing body has confirmed that it will launch an investigation.
Chelsea's French players Axel Disassi, Benoit Badiashille, Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku and Malang Sarr have all unfollowed Fernandez on social media.
