CHELSEA RECALL CRYSTAL PALACE DEFENDER FROM LOAN AS FORMER IPSWICH STAR RETURNS TO STAMFORD BRIDGE

One of Crystal Palace’s defenders is packing his bags and returning home - after his parent club have recalled him from loan.

Adam Davy/PA

Chelsea have activated a clause in the contract of Trevoh Chalobah, bringing him back to Stamford Bridge halfway through his loan spell with Crystal Palace.

It comes amid a difficult defensive spell for the Blues, having conceded twice to Bournemouth in a 2-2 last night (January 14) and previously conceding to Fulham, Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace in consecutive Premier League matches. This has been compounded by a defensive injury crisis that has forced the hand of manager Enzo Maresca.

Wesley Fofana has suffered a setback on his hamstring injury, and could be ruled out until the end of the season. Meanwhile, Benoit Badiashile is sidelined and Alex Disasi is being linked with a move away from the club.

- David George

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ DEFENDED BY FRANCE TEAM AMID NIGHTCLUB REPORTS

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Wesley Fofana has come out in defence of France captain Kylian Mbappé after reports emerged that the Real Madrid forward had been in a nightclub in Sweden on the night of his team's UEFA Nations League win over Israel.

Mbappé had already been criticised in some corners for skipping Les Bleus' games against Israel and Belgium while being available to play for Real Madrid even before Swedish publication Aftonbladet said the former Paris Saint-Germain player had been in a nightclub in Stockholm as his compatriots romped to a 4-1 win on Thursday.

The forward picked up a muscle injury in September but made an earlier-than-scheduled return to the pitch in the Champions League on Oct. 2 as Madrid suffered a shock defeat to Lille, and started their subsequent LaLiga game against Villarreal after being omitted from Didier Deschamps' squad over a lack of preparation.

"People can do what they want with their free time," Chelsea defender Fofana told a news conference Saturday. "It isn't something we [the France squad] have talked about today, I hadn't heard about this story.

"He does what he wants; he is a great guy and a great professional. Are we making too much of it? I don't know. He's the best French player, so it's normal that it is very publicised.

"I think that from time to time [the media] go a little too far. You should ask Kylian Mbappé for more information."

Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi also addressed the reports as he spoke with media.

"We have no doubts about Kylian. ... There is no question about his passion [for his country]," he said. "He loves his country; he will continue to help us. We must stop talking about it too much.

"He has days off; he can do what he wants."

France sit second in Nations League group A2. They play Belgium in Brussels on Monday.

- ESPN

FRENCH FEDERATION TAKES ACTION OVER 'RACIST' ARGENTINA CHANT

Argentina beat Colombia in Sunday's Copa América final in Miami. JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images

 The French Football Federation (FFF) is filing a legal complaint over "racist and discriminatory remarks" by Argentina players in postmatch chants about France's team after the Copa América final.

Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 on Sunday. A video posted on Instagram by Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández and widely viewed on X showed Argentina players singing about French players with African heritage.

Fernández later apologized for singing the song featured in the video.

The same chants -- by some Argentina fans -- emerged before France and Argentina met in the World Cup final two years ago, which Argentina won.

"Given the seriousness of these shocking remarks, which are contrary to the values of sport and human rights, the FFF president has decided to contact its Argentinian counterpart and FIFA directly to file a legal complaint for racist and discriminatory remarks," the French federation said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, condemns in the strongest terms the unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks made against the players of the France team as part of a song sung by players and supporters of the Argentina team."

Diallo is a member of the executive committee of European soccer body UEFA with a growing reputation in the game's politics.

The derogatory chants single out France players of African heritage from several countries holding a French passport.

Fernández's Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana, a France international, shared the video on social media Tuesday with the comment, "Football in 2024: Uninhibited racism."

In an apology on Instagram, Fernández said he was "caught up in the euphoria" of the celebrations.

"I want to apologise sincerely for a video posted on my Instagram channel during the national team celebrations," he posted. "The song includes highly offensive language and there is 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."

FIFA could not immediately confirm Tuesday if the French complaint had been filed.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said soccer and its 211 national federations must have a zero tolerance approach to racism and in May committed to relaunching a task force to monitor incidents.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

- ESPN News Services