Enzo Fernandez is warned his Chelsea team-mates ‘will NEVER take a look at him the noticed method once more’ following ‘racist’ Argentina chant – as Darren Bent reveals on-line abuse he has obtained for calling out the Argentine

Darren Bent believes Enzo Fernandez has irreparably broken his relationship together with his Chelsea team-mates. 

The Blues midfielder filmed himself and plenty of of his Argentina team-mates singing a ‘racist’ chant throughout celebrations of their Copa America win. He appeared to sing a controversial track seemingly claiming French gamers are ‘from Angola’ or have a ‘Nigerian’ mom and a ‘Cameroonian’ father.

He was accused of ‘uninhibited racism’ by his French worldwide team-mate Wesley Fofana, whereas Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi additionally unfollowed him on social media. 

Fernandez issued a public apology on Tuesday night time earlier than reportedly making his apologies to the Chelsea squad. 

However regardless of Fernandez’s pleading, the previous Premier League striker believes his Blues colleagues will ‘by no means take a look at him the identical ever once more’.

 ‘I hope they [Chelsea teammates] would have contacted him first and requested the query of ‘what are you taking part in at?’ Bent mentioned on talkSPORT. ‘However they’ll by no means take a look at him the identical ever once more no matter whether or not he places out the sorrys and says I ought to by no means have executed this.

‘Even when he stands there in entrance of his Chelsea teammates and says ‘I’m deeply sorry for what I’ve executed’, they’ll by no means ever take a look at him the identical.

‘Within the second, he’s the one internet hosting the video. It’s fairly clear that this isn’t his first time singing this track and it’s not their [Argentina squad] first time singing this track as a result of they’re all comfortable, all singing they usually’re all joyful as a result of they’ve simply gained the Copa America.

‘However on the identical time, in that relaxed atmosphere and it comes out as straightforward because it did, his teammates won’t ever belief him the identical method.’ 

Bent had earlier revealed on social media that he had been the goal of vile abuse when he critiqued the efficiency of the Argentina star final season. 

‘The final time I spoke about Enzo Fernandez and his performances for Chelsea that is the response I obtained, and this isn’t half of it,’ he mentioned on X, posting two movies which present him scrolling by means of quite a few racist feedback posted beneath his Instagram.

On talkSPORT, he added: ‘I wasn’t speaking about his persona or him as a personality, simply merely him as a participant. I can’t inform you the quantity of abuse that got here by means of.’

Along with the team-mates who had already condemned Fernandez’s actions, David Fofana – who spent final time period on mortgage at Burnley – additionally declared that ‘these acts don’t have any place in soccer’.

‘The soccer that I like is multi-ethnic.’ The Ivory Coast worldwide wrote in an Instagram put up. ‘Racism in all its types must be condemned within the strongest potential phrases.

‘These acts don’t have any place in soccer and even anyplace else. This struggle actually must be taken critically by everybody on this sport.’

Fernandez has obtained the general public backing of no less than considered one of his team-mates. Striker Nicolas Jackson shared a clip of Fernandez interacting with a younger black little one on the finish of one of many Blues’ pre-season matches final summer time. 

He additionally posted a picture of himself and Fernandez sitting subsequent to one another throughout a coaching session on the membership’s Cobham’s base. 

Chelsea broke their silence in a press release on Wednesday morning which denounced ‘all types’ of discriminatory behaviour.

‘Chelsea Soccer Membership finds all types of discriminatory behaviour fully unacceptable. We’re proud to be a various, inclusive membership the place folks from all cultures, communities and identities really feel welcome,’ the membership mentioned.

‘We acknowledge and admire our participant’s public apology and can use this as a chance to coach. The Membership has instigated an inside disciplinary process.’

FIFA additionally revealed that they’re investigating the problem. A press release from world soccer’s governing physique learn: ‘FIFA is conscious of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being regarded into. FIFA strongly condemns any type of discrimination by anybody together with gamers, followers and officers.’

Chelsea have a lot of French gamers amongst their squad together with Fofana, Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile.

Bent believes that new head coach Enzo Maresca and membership chiefs now have a giant determination to make about how they deal with the problem that has divided the dressing room. 

‘I don’t suppose he [Fernandez] can get himself out of it, Bent added. ‘He’s in all probability probably the most relaxed he’s ever been as a result of he’s simply gained one other main honour and that is when the unfastened lips come out, the free-flowing speech comes out and that’s if you generally see what an individual’s actually like.

‘I don’t suppose he can simply coast again into the dressing room and I genuinely consider that Chelsea have gotten a giant determination to make right here as a result of that is going to have an effect on them going ahead.

‘In case you’re one of many France gamers, you’re ready for Chelsea to do one thing about this as a result of this nearly tells you what facet of the fence they’re sitting on.

‘If they arrive out and say we’ll wonderful him and transfer on from the matter, I wouldn’t be pleased with that in any respect.

‘That’s not backing me, that’s nearly simply wiping it beneath the carpet. We’ve seen with UEFA and FIFA these pathetic fines, it doesn’t do something.

‘You’ve obtained black gamers in that dressing room. It’s all properly and good folks hiding behind campaigns and slogans saying we as a soccer membership don’t condone racism, properly right here’s your alternative now to steer by instance.’