Will Enzo Fernandez be punished for racism row? Latest update on Chelsea star's inflammatory song about Kylian Mbappe
ENZ GAME Will Enzo Fernandez be punished for racism row? Latest update on Chelsea star's inflammatory song about Kylian Mbappe
ENZO FERNANDEZ takes on his old club Benfica tonight at the heart of the Chelsea revolution under boss Enzo Maresca.
The Portuguese giants made a staggering £96million PROFIT when they sold the Argentinian midfielder to the Blues in 2023 — just six months after buying him for £10m.
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Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez will take on former side Benfica at the Club World Cup
Credit: Getty
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It comes nearly a year on from his racism storm with Argentina
Even so, the fixture reopens old wounds over his departure — and a most unsavoury incident which took place a year ago next month.
Benfica were angry at the way they claimed Chelsea unsettled their player and then ducked and dived during negotiations. But that's business.
What is not 'business' is the cloud of racism hanging over the Blues' vice-captain that is not yet fully cleared.
Fans back in England have seen plenty of great football from Fernandez this past 12 months.
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But nothing has been heard from the authorities charged with investigating the moment of madness that has followed the player around since he went viral for all the wrong reasons.
Fernandez, 24, was filmed heartily joining in with dreadful songs alongside his Argentina team-mates questioning the heritage of black French players.
The midfielder had just won Copa America for his country, only to let himself down massively when he should have been in a celebratory mood.
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With a large contingent of black French players in Chelsea's squad — Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi — the reaction was understandably incendiary.
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The Instagram post also carried a transphobic jibe at French superstar Kylian Mbappe and a reported relationship with transgender model Ines Rau.
Fernandez apologised profusely. Fofana and those affected by the bombshell video say they have accepted it and have moved on.
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There certainly does not appear to be any disharmony over it within the Chelsea camp.
For that, those players in the dressing room who were so hurt by the rash actions of a team-mate deserve unreserved respect and admiration.
News of a 'probe' being launched was posted on social media not long after Argentina had beaten Colombia 1-0 in the final yet there is still no conclusion.
Fifa says it is the responsibility of South America's governing body Conmebol and SunSport has contacted them for an update — but is yet to receive a reply.
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Fernandez made a donation to an anti-discrimination charity as well as saying sorry to his team-mates, say Chelsea.
And the club also claimed they would use the episode as an opportunity to 're-educate' their player.
At the last time of asking there was no clear detail available of what that actually entails. The club wants to keep it in-house.
And, in a remarkable show of defiance, new head coach Maresca backed his man by making him captain for the opening Premier League game of last season against Manchester City.
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Fernandez appears to have put the whole thing behind him and is now a key figure in a team that is back in the Champions League.
But the silence around the investigation into a moment of madness that went worldwide within hours — and damaged the reputation of a fine player and an upstanding football club — is deafening.
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