Chelsea have reportedly decided on the likely punishment that they will take for Enzo Fernandez for his part played in a racist song sung at the start of this week.
Fernandez posted a video showing him and members of the Argentina squad singing a song that included racist and homophobic slurs about France players after Argentina won Copa America earlier this week.
Sources: Pedro Neto to Chelsea?? 👀
Other than issuing a public apology for his part in the video late last night, Telegraph Sport understands that Fernandez apologised on a message that was circulated around the entire Chelsea squad.
Recordings of the video feature members of the team appearing to begin singing a chant that includes racist and homophobic slurs, including against France captain Kylian Mbappé.
The chant dates back at least to the World Cup final in which Argentina beat Mbappé‘s country on penalties.
The words falsely stereotype France squad members as being “all from Angola” or having a “Nigerian” mother and “Cameroonian” father, as well as making crude insults and wild accusations about Mbappé’s sexuality.
Chelsea decide likely punishment for Enzo
Chelsea issued a statement earlier today that read: “Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable. We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome.
“We acknowledge and appreciate our player’s public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate. The club has instigated an internal disciplinary procedure.”
Chelsea have confirmed that the club has started an internal disciplinary procedure over the matter that is likely to see Fernandez fined.
I do wonder if there will be a lot more to it than just a fine though. After all, he has really angered some of his team mates.
Wesley Fofana reacted to the video with a message on social media that said: “Football in 2024: uninhibited racism.”
Racism and racist sentiments and inclinations are typically acquired during childhood, regardless of skin color, sometimes even passed down generationally like a communicable virus/sickness. It may be further cemented by a misguided yet strong sense of entitlement, perhaps also environmentally acquired.
Rearing one’s very impressionable young children in such an environment of baseless contempt and overt bigotry amounts to a formidable form of child abuse. It fails to prepare children for the practical reality of an increasingly diverse and populous society and workplace.
It also makes it so much less likely those children will be emotionally content or (preferably) harmonious with their multicultural and multi-ethnic/-racial surroundings.
Children reared into their adolescence and, eventually, young adulthood this way can often be angry yet not fully realize at precisely what. Then they may feel left with little choice but to move to another part of the land, where their own ethnicity/race predominates, preferably overwhelmingly so.
Parents should really do their kids a big favor by NOT passing down onto them such destructive sentiments and perceptions, as such rearing can make life so much harder for one’s own children.