Chelsea midfielder Reece James has admitted that Enzo Fernandez’s return to the Chelsea dressing room could potentially cause a “problem”. Fernandez, an Argentina midfielder, will rejoin his Chelsea teammates in America after being involved in a racism controversy. He and his international teammates were filmed singing a derogatory song about France’s black players after winning the Copa America. This incident has led to an internal investigation within the club. Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana criticized Fernandez’s actions, calling it “uninhibited racism”. While new manager Enzo Maresca expressed confidence that everything will be fine, James acknowledged that they won’t know for sure until Fernandez returns.
James stated that there is always the potential for issues when something like this happens, as it doesn’t sit right with people. However, he hopes that things can be resolved smoothly and that they can move forward with the season. James also revealed that he had spoken to Fernandez, but it was challenging due to the different time zones. They had a general chat where Fernandez tried to explain his situation and how things unfolded. James emphasized that there is no room for racism or discrimination in football.
Despite James’s concerns, Maresca remains hopeful that there won’t be any problems in the dressing room. He stated that Fernandez had issued a statement and apologized, and the club had done the same. Maresca believes that there were no bad intentions and that they are all human beings who can make mistakes. He trusts that once Fernandez returns, there will be no major issues.
The situation has attracted attention outside of the club as well. Argentine president Javier Milei flew to France to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in an attempt to diffuse the situation ahead of the Olympics. Fernandez himself has apologized for his actions, stating that there is no excuse for the offensive language used in the video. He stands against discrimination in all forms and apologizes for getting caught up in the celebration of their Copa America victory. Fernandez emphasizes that the video does not reflect his beliefs or character and expresses his sincere remorse.
In conclusion, Enzo Fernandez’s return to the Chelsea dressing room after his involvement in a racism controversy has raised concerns among some players, including Reece James. While the club and Fernandez have issued apologies, there is still uncertainty about how his return will impact the team. However, the manager, Enzo Maresca, remains optimistic that there won’t be any major problems. The incident has also attracted attention outside of the club, with efforts being made to diffuse the situation. Fernandez himself has taken responsibility for his actions and expressed his sincere remorse.