The controversy began when Fernandez and several of his international teammates were recorded singing a racist and discriminatory chant, which was posted on Fernandez’s social media account following their Copa America final victory over Colombia. After his post-season break, Fernandez returned to the Chelsea squad and issued a face-to-face apology to his teammates to address the tension in the dressing room. Key figures like Chelsea captain Reece James and Axel Disasi played significant roles in mediating the situation.
Fernandez also committed to making a substantial donation to an anti-discrimination charity, a contribution that Chelsea has agreed to match. Reports indicate that the Chelsea board is satisfied with Fernandez’s efforts, and he has already resumed training and socializing with his teammates.
Despite Chelsea’s internal resolution, former Blues defender Michael Duberry is dissatisfied with how the club handled the situation and believes Fernandez should have faced harsher punishment.
Speaking to Aherne & Jennings on talkSPORT, Duberry expressed his disappointment: “I think it’s pretty weak. They could have made a stronger statement. A contribution, a bit of money to a campaign is not really satisfactory in my opinion.”
Chelsea skipper Reece James has urged his teammates to move on from the incident, but Duberry believes this will be challenging.
“As club captain, he has to support the club and say it’s resolved, but in reality, relationships with teammates may still be affected,” Duberry said. “Even though they’ll be professional on the pitch, off the pitch it could cause ongoing repercussions. This was a missed opportunity for the club to show their strong stance against racism. Instead, it feels like a step back to the old Chelsea. They needed to show that no matter the player, they don’t stand for this behavior.”
Duberry criticized the notion that an apology and a donation could close the case: “For many, it won’t be ‘case closed’. The club’s response seems insufficient given the magnitude of the situation. If it were a less significant player, they might have imposed a harsher punishment. But because of Fernandez’s importance to the club, they avoided a ban, which is disappointing.”
When asked what he would do if he were in a position of authority at Chelsea, Duberry suggested a more stringent punishment for Fernandez.
“There’d be a ban, not just a fine,” he said. “A sincere apology is important, but there must be more than just moving on. Racism is still here, and addressing it requires more than a weak response.”
Although Chelsea have concluded their internal investigation, FIFA has yet to issue a verdict. Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca hopes to reintegrate Fernandez into the squad before they return to the UK after completing their pre-season commitments, which include friendlies against Club America, Manchester City, and Real Madrid.
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