Chelsea head coach, Enzo Maresca and club captain Reece James, have addressed the controversy surrounding star midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Fernandez faced backlash after livestreaming an offensive song following Argentina’s Copa America victory over Colombia on July 15.
Fernandez’s actions led to accusations of “uninhibited racism” from teammate Wesley Fofana, prompting the midfielder to issue a public apology and engage in direct discussions with his teammates.
Chelsea has also initiated an internal disciplinary review to address the matter.
Maresca expressed confidence that the team will overcome the controversy, emphasizing the human aspect of the situation.
“I don’t think so to be honest. At the end, they are all human beings,” Maresca said. “There is no bad intention from any one of them. I don’t think when Enzo is back, we will have any problems. The player and club clarified the situation. It’s great the player did the statement to apologise. The club did the same. There is not something to add to the situation. It’s clear and clarified.”
Reece James acknowledged the challenges of the situation but commended Fernandez for his prompt apology.
“It’s obviously a really difficult situation. I think Enzo (Fernandez) quickly acknowledged he did wrong, put his hand up and apologised to the club, the team and the people offended,” James said.
“I have spoken to Enzo and everyone involved but those conversations have to stay in-house. He hasn’t arrived yet so I don’t know if there is anything to amend. I hope everyone will be on the same page and we can move on from the situation,” he added.
Chelsea is currently on a U.S. tour as they gear up for the 2024-25 Premier League season, with their next match against Wrexham at Levi’s Stadium on July 25.
