Chelsea opts not to punish Fernandez due to charity donation
Chelsea has decided not to punish Enzo Fernandez for his part in Argentina’s racist celebrations at Copa America 2024. The midfielder recently recorded himself and his teammates singing a racist song following their triumph at the tournament. The song was directed towards players on the France national team. French soccer officials condemned the video and filed a complaint to FIFA.
Fernandez and his Argentine teammates faced immediate backlash due to the incident. Among those taking issue with the song was Wesley Fofana. The defender, who is French and Black, labeled the actions by the Argentina players as “uninhibited racism” in a social media post. Fofana is also Fernandez’s teammate at Chelsea.
The midfielder issued a somewhat bizarre apology on his own social media accounts. In the post, Fernandez stated that Argentina essentially got “caught up in the euphoria” of the Copa America celebrations. He also claimed that singing the racist song did not reflect his “belief or character.”
Fernandez pledges to donate to anti-discrimination charity
After the video circulated various news outlets, Chelsea claimed that they would launch an investigation into the matter. This inquiry, however, has not resulted in an official penalty for Fernandez. According to The Guardian, the Argentine midfielder essentially escaped a penalty after apologizing to his teammates once again and making a donation to an anti-discrimination charity.
Fernandez joined up with his Chelsea teammates on Monday after getting time off following Copa America 2024. The Blues are currently touring the United States as part of their preseason preparations.
Along with the incident involving Fernandez, Chelsea’s American summer tour has not exactly gone as planned. The west London side needed a late goal to rescue a draw against Wrexham on July 24. They were then thumped by Celtic 4-1 three days later in Indiana. Chelsea next faces Club America in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Fernandez’s recent face-to-face apology with his teammates occurred in Atlanta. The fellow Blues stars accepted the apology and are willing to move on. This group included Fofana, along with fellow Frenchman Axel Disasi, and captain Reece James. The exact charity to receive Fernandez’s donation is unknown. Chelsea, however, will match the contribution. The club now considers the issue closed.
Recent report claims racist incidents are up in English soccer
Nevertheless, Fernandez could still face sanctions in the near future. FIFA is currently investigating the incident involving Argentina’s celebrations. Although the Blues have resisted taking a stand on the situation, the governing body may issue a suspension. It remains unclear how long FIFA will take a look at the incident.
The update on the episode comes just days after reports of racism’s rise in England. Kick It Out, an anti-discrimination organization, recently claimed that reports involving racism are up 47% in English soccer. In total, there were 731 racist incidents during the 2023/24 season.
Racism, however, is not the only form of discrimination to increase. Sexist and faith-based discrimination are also up as well. Kick It Out previously teamed up with Premier League clubs to take a knee before top-flight matches. The gesture shows support for racial equality.
PHOTOS: IMAGO.