Rodrigo De Paul Defends Enzo Fernández: ‘It’s Folklore, Not Racism’
The controversy surrounding the Copa América celebrations continues, and this time, it was Rodrigo De Paul who came to the defense of Enzo Fernández. From Chelsea, where Fernández plays, accusations were made about the racist chants during the Argentine celebrations.
In a conversation on the Olga podcast, De Paul revealed his stance on the Andean song that says: Listen, spread the word, they play in France but they’re all from Angola (…). The Atlético Madrid midfielder assured that after the final, Lionel Messi asked them to not burden anyone. Let’s celebrate ourselves.
Defending Enzo Fernández
In defense of the River Plate-formed player, Rodrigo stated: It was folklore. There is a place where this thing of the stadium songs happens, where one doesn’t analyze the song that much. One does it more in relation to a ‘chicana’ (joke).
De Paul also addressed Wesley Fofana, the French Chelsea player who went viral with his condemnation of Enzo. Then you can understand that people who have suffered racism don’t like it, and there are places. If an Enzo teammate feels offended, he should call him. Not put it on a social network, he expressed.
Calling for Understanding
The former Racing player affirmed that there is a bit of malice or wanting to put Enzo in a place that has nothing to do with it. It’s like making firewood from the fallen tree. He also stated that It’s people who are with you all the time in the locker room, on trips. There is trust. You call them and the issue is cut off there. Don’t make such a show. In defense of Enzo, the song is because he was there, the people sing it and not from a discriminatory place.
Conclusion
Rodrigo De Paul’s defense of Enzo Fernández highlights the nuanced nature of these situations, where cultural context and personal relationships can play a significant role. While the chants may have been offensive to some, De Paul argues that they were not meant to be discriminatory, but rather a part of the celebratory ‘folklore’ surrounding the Argentine team’s triumph.
