Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez will not face any disciplinary action from the Football Association (FA) regarding his involvement in a controversial social media video, which contained offensive comments about members of the French national team.
The FA’s decision comes after an initial investigation conducted by both FIFA and Chelsea into the video, which surfaced following Argentina’s triumph in the Copa America.
In the video, Fernandez, along with several of his Argentine teammates, can be seen chanting a racially offensive song aimed at the French team during their celebrations in July.
There had been speculation that the FA might open an inquiry into Fernandez’s behavior, given his role as a prominent player in the English Premier League.
However, the FA ultimately chose not to pursue the matter further, determining that the video was recorded while Fernandez was on international duty.
As a result, any investigation into the incident fell under the jurisdiction of FIFA and CONMEBOL, the governing body for South American football.
The controversy began when Fernandez, in the midst of celebrating Argentina’s Copa America victory, shared a livestream on Instagram.
The video showed him and his teammates singing a chant that was widely regarded as racist, specifically targeting black players from the French national team and their heritage.
The footage sparked a significant backlash, both within and outside of the footballing community.
Some of the harshest criticism came from Chelsea, where defender Wesley Fofana publicly denounced the behavior, calling it “uninhibited racism.”
In the wake of the incident, some of Fernandez’s Chelsea teammates even unfollowed him on social media.
However, despite the initial wave of outrage, the situation took a more nuanced turn when Fofana later expressed a more supportive stance towards Fernandez.
Fofana clarified that while he did not condone the offensive chant, he did not believe Fernandez to be inherently racist.
Instead, he suggested that the young midfielder needed education and awareness regarding the hurtful impact of his actions.
Following this, Fernandez issued a public apology, acknowledging the deeply offensive nature of the chant.
The song in question had gained notoriety after being sung by some Argentine fans during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and it was subsequently adopted by certain members of the Argentine squad, including Fernandez and his teammates.
Despite the controversy, Fernandez has been able to reintegrate into Chelsea’s squad without facing formal sanctions.
He has featured in Chelsea’s last three matches across different competitions, indicating that the club has moved past the incident for the time being.
Fernandez’s involvement in Argentina’s World Cup victory, in which he played a key role alongside team captain Lionel Messi, remains a significant achievement, although the backlash from the social media video has cast a shadow over his international success.
In the end, while the incident stirred up controversy, the FA’s decision not to take disciplinary action means Fernandez will face no further consequences at the domestic level.
The focus will now likely shift to Fernandez’s ongoing performances at Chelsea as he looks to put the matter behind him.
