Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has defended Argentina team-mate Enzo Fernandez after the racism row that followed their country’s Copa America victory.
Fernandez was heavily criticized for sharing a sharing a video of himself with some of his Argentina team-mates celebrating after last weekend’s win over Colombia in the United States in which the players were heard singing a song that allegedly contains racist remarks towards French players.
The former Benfica midfielder has since become a subject of disciplinary action from his club Chelsea after the video prompted widespread condemnation not least from Fernandez’s Chelsea colleague Wesley Fofana.
FIFA has also received an official complaint from the French Football Federation.
Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister of Argentina (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
However, Mac Allister, who is not believed to have been among the Argentina players on the coach with Fernandez, is adamant his fellow midfielder is not a racist while admitting his country isn’t accustomed to dealing with such accusations.
“You have to be careful with what you say or do, especially in Europe where they are much more sensitive than here,” Mac Allister said to Argentina news outlet Urbana Play FM. “The reality is that we are not a racist country, we are not used to talking about racism so much. Yes, it’s a very important topic, obviously.
“Enzo has already apologised and explained what happened. I don’t think there’s much more to say. We know Enzo, we know he would never do it with bad intentions, he’s not that guy, he’s not racist. It’s just a chant that got stuck and is more of a mocking tone than anything else.
“But, as I said, you have to be very careful. I think the most important thing is that Enzo came out, gave the corresponding apologies, and that, in the end, should be valued.”
