Enzo Fernandez could face a ban of up to 12 matches for taking part in a racist and transphobic chant while on duty for Argentina, according to a top sports lawyer (via Daily Mail).
Fernandez came under fire for sharing an Instagram Live which showed him and other Albiceleste team-mates singing that France’s players are ‘all from Angola’ and mocking their multi-ethnic heritage in the wake of the team’s Copa America victory.
Fernandez’s Chelsea team-mate , Wesley Fofana was the first to accuse him of ‘uninhibited racism’ in a social media post – which attracted a slew of racist tolls to attack the France international in response.
Many of Fernandez’s French team-mates, including Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto, and Axel Disasi, opted to unfollow him on Instagram, shortly before the Argentine shared a public apology which stressed that ‘those words do not express (his) beliefs and character’.
Chelsea then issued their own statement condemning their player’s actions and announcing that they would be launching an internal disciplinary procedure in the wake of the incident.
Should the west London club decide to sanction their player, it is likely that they will only do so by fining the player for gross misconduct – with a typical amount just two weeks’ salary.
Udo Onwere, sports lawyer at Bray & Krais and a former Fulham midfielder said that the club were likely to ‘go down the financial route’ in a bid to ensure that one of their record signings remains a valuable prospect.
Fernandez was bought from Benfica in January 2023 for a then-British record £107million and has been a regular fixture under Chelsea’s revolving-door of managers including Graham Potter, Frank Lampard and Mauricio Pochettino.
Onwere added that Fernandez will legally have the opportunity to explain his actions, with his public apology already putting him in a more favourable position with regards to additional punishment.
Mail Sport reported on Wednesday that the FA were not yet taking action over Fernandez’s incident on international duty, but that the possibility had not been entirely ruled out.
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