Mac Allister backs Enzo Fernández amid Argentina racism scandal

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister said Argentina teammate Enzo Fernandez is facing an undeserved backlash over a video showing Chelsea midfielder sings a racist song.

Fernández apologised this week after he posted a video on Instagram following his team’s 1-0 win over Colombia during the Copa América final showed him and other Argentine players singing an offensive song aimed at France players of African origin.

Chelsea and FIFA have opened an investigation into the incident after the French Football Federation (FFF) announced it would file a legal complaint over “racist and homophobic statements” made by Fernández and his Argentina teammates.

Mac Allister, who does not appear in the video, told Argentine radio Urbana play: “Enzo apologized and explained what happened. There is nothing more to say.

“We know Enzo, we know he would never do that with bad intentions. It was more of a mantra that was said and it was more of a mocking tone than anything else. The most important thing is that Enzo apologized and we have to respect that.”

Similar chants – from some Argentina fans – were heard before France and Argentina met in the 2022 World Cup final, which Argentina won.

Fernandez of club teammate Wesley Fofana And Christopher Nkunku French has both express your discontent.

Argentina international Rodrigo de Paul feels Fernández is being unfairly targeted.

“People don’t really analyze songs about football pitches,” Atletico Madrid midfielder said.

“I can understand people who have suffered racism and all that, not liking it. But there is a way. If Enzo [club] If a teammate feels offended, the way to do that is to call him out on social media. I think it’s a little bit mean or putting Enzo in a place where he absolutely shouldn’t be.”

The Argentine government on Thursday dismissed the country’s deputy sports minister Julio Garro resigns for calling captain Lionel Messi and the president of the Association of Football Associations (AFA) Claudio Tapia has apologized for the video.

Mac Allister said his country is not racist.

“The reality is we are not a racist country here,” he said. “We are not used to talking about racism. It is an important subject.

“You have to be careful what you do and say, especially in Europe because it’s more sensitive there.”