Chelsea have decided not to punish Enzo Fernández after he was shown on video chanting racist and homophobic slurs about members of the France team, after the Argentina midfielder made a voluntary donation to an anti-discrimination charity.
Fernández posted a video on Instagram that showed him and some of his Argentina teammates involved in the chants as they celebrated their victory in the Copa América final. That was described by the Chelsea and France defender Wesley Fofana as “uninhibited racism”.
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Fernández apologised on Instagram and in a private message to his Chelsea teammates, and Chelsea said they had “instigated an internal disciplinary procedure” against the 23-year-old.
Fernández is understood to have apologised again to the Chelsea squad as soon as he met up with them in Atlanta on Monday on the club’s tour of the United States. They are said to have accepted his apology, with the club captain, Reece James, and the France defender Axel Disasi believed to have played key roles in consultations between the players and Fernández. Fofana is understood to have been part of the group to which Fernández apologised.
Fernández offered to make a significant donation to an anti-discrimination charity. That will be made by the Chelsea Foundation, with the beneficiary yet to be decided. Chelsea have committed to matching Fernández’s contribution, having been impressed by the maturity and responsibility shown by the player upon his return. It is understood the internal disciplinary process has concluded, with Chelsea considering the matter closed.
The Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, insisted last week that Fernández’s return would not be an issue for squad harmony. Fernández, who is said to have been in constant contact with members of the squad before meeting up with them, still faces the possibility of a sanction from football’s world governing body, Fifa, which continues to investigate the incident.
