Former Premier League striker brands Lionel Messi 'SELFISH' for failing to condemn his team-mates for their racist chanting in Argentina's Copa America celebrations

A erstwhile Premier League striker has urged Lionel Messi to speak retired pursuing Argentina's arguable Copa America celebrations.

After nan Albiceleste defeated Colombia successful extra-time to unafraid back-to-back triumphs successful nan title past week, footage of their consequent celebrations went viral connected societal media.

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez unrecorded streamed immoderate of nan celebrations connected his Instagram relationship and later came nether occurrence arsenic nan players could beryllium heard singing a arguable song.

The chant, that originated astir Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph complete France claims French players are 'from Angola' aliases person a 'Nigerian' mother and a 'Cameroonian' father. 

While nan squad returned to Buenos Aires aft nan final, Argentina skipper Lionel Messi is said to person remained successful Miami and was not coming connected nan autobus arsenic nan arguable incident took place.

However, erstwhile Chelsea and West Ham striker Carlton Cole has insisted nan Inter Miami prima has to return accountability and condemn nan actions of his team-mates.

'Argentina person sewage personification who is renowned arsenic astir apt nan champion footballer to ever grace nan beautiful crippled - Lionel Messi.' Cole said connected talkSPORT.

'We've sewage a look astatine Messi and you say, you cognize what, Messi travel out. We request to perceive you. I request you to. You've sewage to speak up astir this.

'Because this is much than Enzo. Messi is nan main feline there. He's nan captain. He needs to travel retired and opportunity thing astir this behaviour.

'Otherwise, it's conscionable for illustration he doesn't care. He doesn't attraction really I feel, he doesn't attraction really immoderate of his achromatic teammates he's had successful nan past feel.

'That conscionable shows maine that he's selfish. He needs to travel retired and opportunity something. 

'I condemn him. Simple. I condemn Messi.'

Chelsea are conducting their ain probe into nan incident aft Fernandez recovered himself astatine nan centre of nan storm.

The 23-year-old has since apologised successful a station connected societal media, claiming that he sewage 'caught up successful nan euphoria of our celebrations'.

His Blues team-mate Wesley Fofana, who is French and nan boy of an Ivorian father, criticised nan video, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to stock nan footage with nan caption: 'Football successful 2024: uninhibited racism'.