Javier Mascherano defends 'great guy' Enzo Fernandez and insists he and his Argentina team-mates are NOT racist - as he suggests Chelsea's probe into vile song about French players is 'making things bigger than they are'

Javier Mascherano has leapt to the defence of Enzo Fernandez and his Argentina team-mates, insisting that the racist song they sang about French footballers was 'taken out of context'.

In a video posted on social media by Fernandez following Argentina's Copa America triumph on Sunday, the Chelsea star and several of his international team-mates were heard singing a controversial song which appeared to claim that French players are from Angola', or have a 'Nigerian' mother and a 'Cameroonian' father. 

The footage has since sparked outrage across the world of football, with the French football federation describing the song as 'racist and discriminatory' and Fernandez's Chelsea team-mate Wesley Fofana accusing him of 'uninhibited racism'.

The west London club has confirmed they are investigating the matter, the while the French FA have vowed to send a legal complaint to FIFA, world football's governing body.

The song is believed to have originated in public when Argentina fans chanted it on television during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Following the racism storm, Chelsea are now set for a dressing room civil war ahead of Enzo Maresca's first season at the club, with Benoit Badiashile, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku, David Fofana, Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Romeo Lavia  and Fofana all unfollowing the Argentine midfielder on Instagram this week.

Mascherano, who made 147 appearances for the Argentina national team, has leapt to Fernandez's defence, insisting his countrymen are 'not racists'.

'If there is something that we Argentines are not, it is racists, far from it,' the former Liverpool and Barcelona star told Ole.

'If there is something that we are as a country, it is totally inclusive. In Argentina, people from all over the world live and we treat them as they should be treated.'

Mascherano went on to add that Fernandez will have 'no problem' with the droves of Chelsea stars unfollowing him on social media and suggested that investigation seems somewhat exaggerated.

He added: 'I know Enzo, he's a great guy and he has no problem with that. What happens is that many times during a celebration, a part of a video can be taken out of context.

'You have to understand the culture of each country and know that sometimes what we perceive as a joke can be misinterpreted in other places. 

'Enzo also made it known on social media that he was apologising. Sometimes people try to make things much bigger than they are.'

Chelsea and Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson appeared to defend Fernandez by posting an image of the midfielder interacting with a young black child at the end of one of the Blues' pre-season matches last summer. 

Jackson accompanied the video with the caption, 'Enzo Fernandez and this young fan,' followed by two pleading face emojis. The post also included a depiction of black and white fists bumping, with a heart just above.

Jackson also posted an image of himself and Fernandez sitting next to each other during a training session at the club's Cobham's base. The Argentine could be seen smiling, while Jackson held a stern demeanor in the picture.

Fernandez apologised for his actions on social media on Tuesday night, claiming that he was 'caught up in the euphoria' of the team's celebrations.

'I want to apologise for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations,' his message began.

'The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words. I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologise for getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations.

'That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my beliefs or my character. I am truly sorry.'