Enzo Fernandez breaks cover as Argentina star is pictured for first time since sparking racism storm by singing controversial song in Copa America celebrations

Enzo Fernandez has been pictured for the first time since sparking a racism storm in his side's Copa America celebrations.

The Argentina midfielder has received heavy backlash for celebrations on a bus after his side beat Colombia 1-0 in the final of the competition to win their third major international trophy in a row on Sunday night.

Fernandez released a statement on social media on Tuesday stating he 'stands against discrimination in all forms' and that he apologises for 'getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations' after a video of members of the Argentina team on a bus went viral.

The statement came after a video appeared to show the Argentina players singing about how French players are 'from Angola' or have a 'Nigerian' mother and a 'Cameroonian' father.

Now, while enjoying some time off following international duty, the 23-year-old has been snapped for the first time since the incident alongside his two children.

The picture shows Fernandez in a plane with his two children, a daughter, four, and son, one.

Both children were sat on his lap in the photo, with the midfielder wearing a black cap backards, a white shirt and grey trousers.

Recordings of Fernandez's video show the team seemingly at least singing the Angola portion of the song while he grins, though he ends it before they reach the part relating to Kylian Mbappe.

Fernandez had been filming before Argentina's players started singing the song but ended the Instagram live seconds after the racist chant began.

The song first emerged around the 2022 World Cup, when Argentina beat France in the final on penalties in Qatar. 

Chelsea are conducting their own probe after the man they spent a British-record £107million on in January 2023 found himself at the centre of a storm. Sources at Chelsea say they are taking the matter seriously and will proceed accordingly.

Chelsea's Wesley Fofana, who is French and the son of an Ivorian father, criticised the video, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to share the footage with the caption: 'Football in 2024: uninhibited racism'.

Trolls have also gone to the comments section on Fofana's Instagram to aim racist abuse at the defender in the latest sour turn of events.

Fofana, Axel Disasi and Malo Gusto - also of Chelsea - meanwhile, have all unfollowed Fernandez on Instagram.

Though a number of fans and players have slammed Fernandez following the events, several have leapt to his defence, including a number of Argentina team-mates.

Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister said:  'Enzo has already apologised and explained what happened,' he continued. '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.'

Rodrigo de Paul, meanwhile, added via Diario AS: 'You don't analyse the songs that much. I can understand people who have suffered racism and don't like it, but then there is a place for everything.

'If someone or a colleague of Enzo feels offended, the way to go about it is to call him if you know him personally, not to put it on social networks.

'There is a bit of malice in it, or maybe wanting to put Enzo in a spot that he has nothing to do with. You don't have to do add fuel to the fire, or make it into a show.'